"Organic" means food grown without most conventional pesticides or fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's website. To carry the "organic" seal, a product must be certified as having been produced according to federal regulations. It has been perceived to be healthier than food grown with conventional pesticides and fertilizers. According to the Organic Trade Association, annual sales of organic food and beverages grew from $1 billion in 1990 to well over $20 billion in 2007.
However, according to an LA Times article posted today, this perception may not be true. The healthiness of organically grown food has not been proved scientifically. A 2002 study in the journal Food Additives and Contaminants showed that there were more pesticide residues on conventional foods, than there were on organic foods. This is the case even after thorough washing and cleaning of the food. So the question is, whether or not people want to pay up to 40% more than conventional food, for organic food, when there is no clear evidence that organic food is any healthier than conventionally grown foods. To me it makes sense that organic would be healthier than conventional food, because of how carefully it's grown, and how naturally it is kept. But I'm not a scientist, so who am I to say. I personally don't prefer organic over conventional, but that's just me. We'll just have to see what more information comes out in the future.
-Joseph Park
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