Organic food is more nutritious

Question

Many consumers believe or are conditioned to believe that organic food is better for them, but does it really make a difference?

Answer 1

Organic food offers not much more nutrition than conventional foods. Harvard Health states that in 250 studies by Stanford University of organic vs traditional foods, "researchers discovered very little difference in nutritional content, aside from slightly higher phosphorus levels in many organic foods, and a higher omega-3 fatty acid content in organic milk and chicken." However, organic foods are safer than conventionally grown food since they contain 30% less pesticide residue. Non-organic foods have pesticide levels within food safety limits, but long-term studies do show that the pesticide levels can cause cancers like non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, according to Mayo Clinic—but the safety vs the nutritious benefit of organic foods are different topics. Whether you choose to buy organic or non-organic food is really your choice, but there are very little health benefits in terms of nutrition to buying organic food, and they tend to be more expensive. People who are concerned about their pesticide intake, such as pregnant women and children, would likely choose organic over non-organic.

Comments

I see what you’re saying about organic foods maybe being safer, but I think you mixed up safety and nutrition a little. Just because organic has fewer pesticides doesn’t mean it has more vitamins or anything. Like the article said, things like soil and harvest time matter more for how nutritious a food is.
Good job bringing up the health risks with pesticides. I didn’t think about how that might affect people over time. But I’m wondering — do we know for sure that eating organic lowers cancer risk? Or is it more like a maybe? I think more long-term studies are still needed.

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While your points are sound and supported by credible evidence, the second half of your answer does not address the question the original article is addressing. They ask if organic foods are more NUTRITIOUS than traditional options, not if they are safer. The first part of your answers supported by Harvard Health addresses the question asked originally and is a sufficient answer on its own.

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I really appreciate this answer because I think they did a really good job at differentiating how healthy food is more so safer over necessarily being healthier. I've been told by so many people that organic food is better for you, and I think I always assumed that meant it was healthier than that of no organic food. Yet it always made me confused how something like an egg could be healthier if it's organic compared to not. I now understand that it's more so safer from pesticides compared to no organic food, which I feel like more times then not is still safe to eat (a relevantly small percentage of people actually get sick from non organic food).

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Yes this is very insightful information. I think you did a great job in differentiating which healthy foods are better. I have always thought that organic food meant it was more rich in nutrients and healthier because it was grown in farms that took care of their fields, unlike mass conventional farming that is more worried about quantity over quality. Now I understand it's more about the pesticides that are used to farming and the differnces the chemicals make using the farming process.

Answer 2

It is not proven that organic foods are more nutritious compared to non-organic food. The article "Organic foods: Are they safer? More nutritious?" covers that the amount of nutrition varies in different plants rather that what the plant produces "Levels also depend on the quality of the soil, harvest time, and the way products are stored and for how long." These different factors have more of an impact rather than the pesticides or lack of in different foods. It has been shown that eating organic can result in lower levels of health complications, like lower rates of cancer and less issues pregnancy. However it is equally nutritious to eat both organic and non organic foods.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/organic-food/art-20043880

Comments

This is a thoughtful summary of the Mayo Clinic article and highlights an important point: the nutritional value of food depends more on factors like soil quality and storage than on whether it’s organic. While organic foods may reduce exposure to certain pesticides and have been linked to some health benefits, they aren’t necessarily more nutritious than non-organic foods. It’s also crucial to recognize that both organic and conventional foods can be part of a healthy diet. Ultimately, the focus should be on eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole foods—regardless of how they’re grown.

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You provided a very informative response. Mayo Clinic is a very good source, but I believe you could further solidify your argument with another trusted source to gain another perspective.

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You mentioned that organic foods have reduced exposure to certain pesticides and have been linked to some health benefits, so doesn't that make them more nutritious? Nutritious implies healthy. Also, how food is grown affects how healthy it is. As the study of the University of Washington explains in the following link. In that article, the biology of soil, matters to the quality of food. I understand there are various ways to interpret what nutritious means and conventional foods do have nutritional value even though some aspects are problematic.

https://www.washington.edu/news/2022/02/24/farms-following-soil-friendly-practices-grow-healthier-food-study-suggests/

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Nice clear summary! you could've made it even stronger by mentioning if any recent studies support or challenge the Mayos Clinics conclusion- that would add more depth.

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Your fact check answers the question thoughtfully, and you break down your source from mayo clinic well. Mayo clinic is a very reputable source when it comes to health. I like how you discussed the factors than can affect the amount of nutrition in food. Your argument could have been stronger with additional sources that support your argument.

Answer 3

The claim that organic food is more nutritious appears to be true though the study does not include every fruit/vegetable/grain to make this completely true. The study shows they tested tons of produce and found the same results every time that the organic food has “higher antioxidants and lower cadmium”(NIH). Reporting the same results every time via a reputable source of the National Library of Medicine in which the claims article used. The claim used other sources that recommend buying organic food over non organic. This said the study covered 343 crops which does not include every one possible. I also found in other studies such as from UC Davis which claim organic food is no different in terms of nutrition. Some studies claim there's no difference and some claim there is. Overall this claim is an exaggerated in that not all organic food is healthier or better. The claim says most places recommend to get organic because of the studies that do find differences although it doesnt seem to be significant.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24968103/

https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/good-food/are-organic-foods-really-healthier-two-pediatricians-break-it-down/2019/04

https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1000252 

Comments

I understand your point that it does not include every fruit, vegetable and grain to make this claim completely true. However, I am not sure if it realistic for a study to include every variety. Some fruits and vegetables will absorb more chemicals than others. Like an avocado with thick skin would absorb less chemicals than a strawberry. Pesticides affect the nutritious value of food because they are chemicals.
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/20/dirty-dozen-2024-12-fruits-and-vegetables-with-the-most-pesticides.html

Answer 4

"Nutritious" is a broad term that can be interpreted in different ways. Calories, vitamins, nutrients, sugars and proteins are all part of nutrition. Conventional foods and organic foods may be similar in some of those aspects. However, the article definitely provides credible information from credible sources that organic food is healthier, and healthier is a factor of something being nutritious. The British Journal of Nutrition, which is a peer reviewed journal, cited a study that "found that organic produce and grains have higher concentrations of antioxidants, lower levels of cadmium and nitrogen compounds and fewer pesticide residues." Pesticides are chemicals and cadmium is a toxic medal. So logically, food without toxic chemicals are going to be more nutritious. Also, the article quoted Ken Cook, EWG’s cofounder and president. According to his bio, his organization, "In the 1990s, EWG’s research was a major factor in the passage of the landmark pesticide reform law, the Food Quality Protection Act." He has a long history of doing this work and even got legislation passed. Additionally, credible organizations have given him awards; "from health and environmental organizations including Mount Sinai Hospital’s Children’s Environmental Health Center, the U.S. Healthful Food Council and Epidemic Answers." While traditional fruits and vegetables may have some of the same qualities that organic food possesses, it has pesticides and toxic chemicals that organic foods do not. 

https://www.ewg.org/who-we-are/our-team/ken-cook

https://www.nutritionsociety.org/british-journal-nutrition-0

https://www.osha.gov/cadmium 

Comments

You mention a study from the British Journal of Nutrition, which is a solid source, but I think it’s important to look at how the study was done. How many people or food samples did they study? And who paid for the research? Sometimes groups that support organic food fund studies that show organic food is better, so we should be careful about bias. Also, just because something has fewer pesticides doesn’t always mean it’s more nutritious. Did the article show that people who eat organic food are actually healthier in the long run? But you did do a nice job explaining why pesticides and toxic metals like cadmium can be a problem, and it was helpful that you showed the background of Ken Cook. But I think it would be useful to look more closely at what “nutritious” means. Did the study talk about things like fiber, protein, or other parts of nutrition? Also, even if organic food has more antioxidants, it might not make a big health difference unless people eat a lot of it. It could be helpful to look at bigger reviews that compare lots of studies to get a fuller picture.

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The way you answered this question was spot on, I enjoy how you not only explain nutrition but also gives the reader examples. I also really enjoyed your use of outside sources because it made your article more creditable and means that you actually took the time to research about organic food. One argument that I didn’t fully agree with was when you said that since organic foods are all nutritious which makes it better then normal but that could definitely just be an opinion since no article actually confirmed its benefits. Overall I enjoy the way you made your argument and also agree.

Answer 5

The scientific debate over the benifits of organic food vs. the unconventional prices has gone on for a long time. Some studies point to higher antioxidant levels and lower cadmium and pesticide levels in the organic crops. Differences are small and their impact on human health isn't conclusively demonstrated

Nutrition depends on a variety of factors such as soil condition, time of harvesting, and storage, which may overrule the effects of agricultural practices (Smith & Jones, 2019). Hence, to what extent organic farming alone contributes to changing the nutrient content is unclear. In addition, although organic produce typically has less pesticide residue, regulatory agencies assert that conventional produce typically exceeds safety standards, leaving the real-world health effects of reduced exposure to pesticides (Mayo Clinic, 2022; EWG, 2023).

Socioeconomic issues compound the question. Organic produce is also more expensive, presenting accessibility concerns, and whether the potential benefit is worth the cost to all (Lee & Kim, 2021).

In summary, while organic foods may be a bit unique in some nutritional compositions and pesticide levels, the evidence for important benefits to health is not clear. It takes more research to answer these associations, especially those that consider both nutritional and economic determinants.

Comments

While you make a valid answer to the claim, nowhere does it mention the prices of organic foods. You should back up this claim with understand the meaning of "organic"(you did good on defining "nutrition" would like to see an understanding of what "organic" is in the sense of this claim.). Again, the claim does not mention anything regarding prices. Stick to the main focus of the claim, "organic food is more nutritious". Also add the sources' links; it's not helpful seeing just, what I am assuming is, the title to the article?

Answer 6

A lot of people think organic food is healthier because it’s grown without chemicals. Therefore it might have more vitamins and antioxidants. Organic farming also tends to focus on keeping the soil healthy, which some say helps the plants get better nutrients. But when scientists look closely, they don’t always find big differences between organic and regular produce. Sometimes, how fresh the food is or what kind it is matters more. Organic food usually costs more and can be harder to get. This leads to people wonding if it’s worth it.

Cited

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/organic-food/art-20043880

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/organic-food

Comments

Where did you find the claim that "A lot of people think organic food is healthier because it’s grown without chemicals."?? How can you claim this without doing thorough research? What does the cost of organic food have anything to do with the claim? The claim is simply, "organic food is more nutritious". Stick to the claim and not go off track. Also, organic foods are called organic because of the way they're processed, not how they're grown("Is organic the same as "natural?" https://health.clevelandclinic.org/organic-food). You should, next time, look further into what something means when answering a claim.

Answer 7

Studies comparing organic and conventional foods show mixed results regarding nutritional benefits. A 2024 review published in Heliyon analyzed 147 articles and found that in about 42% of cases, there was no significant nutritional difference between the two. Around 29% of comparisons showed organic foods had higher nutrient levels, while the rest were mixed or inconclusive. This means organic foods are not consistently more nutritious than conventional ones. Therefore, choosing organic may be more about reducing pesticide exposure or environmental concerns than guaranteed nutrition benefits.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024043196

Answer 8

Organic food is undoubtedly healthier for consumers. That being said, it is healthy in ways that we do not typically consider when we say organic food is better for you. The nutritional advantages are actually very minor. Meaning that organic food isn't better for you due to more nutrients. What makes organic food better for you is that it is reduced in pesticide and antibiotic exposure. Not only this, but organic farming is significantly better for the environment. Meaning that organic food is not only better for you due to fewer additives in the food, but it is also more sustainable for our planet. With all this being said, if you believe that buying organic food is significantly better for you because of nutrition, you are unfortunately incorrect. 

https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/food-and-pesticides

https://www.mckinsey.com/about-us/overview/sustainable-and-inclusive-growth?cid=sig25-pse-ggl-mck-na-sig25-usa-dmc&utm_medium=ad&utm_source=rta_googlesearch&utm_campaign=Z57

Answer 9

The claim is rather unbiased to what they're trying to say, that organic food is more nutritious. For starters they should've been more specific instead of making the claim a question. 

For starters, let's define the term "organic" in the sense of food products. From the Healthline website, they define organic as, "...how certain foods are produced. Organic foods have been grown or farmed without the use of: 

• artificial chemicals
• hormones
• antibiotics
• genetically modified organisms (GMOs)"(Healthline). 

To answer this claim, I found an article published by Harvard Health Publishing, with the article titled, "Organic food no more nutritious than conventionally grown food". A study at the University of Stanford  was done to determine this claim that many throw around without a care in the world. The article covers what the researchers at Stanford had conducted. They evaluated nearly 250 studies comparing the nutrients in organic vs. traditional foods from fruits and veggies to meats and eggs and their health outcomes when consuming them. These researchers had discovered that there was a very little difference in the nutritional content, besides different levels of phosphorus in the organic foods and a higher omega-3 fatty acid in organic milk and chicken. They claim that organic produce had in fact have a "slight edge" in food safety—30% lower pesticide residues than conventional foods; the pesticide levels in both organic and non-organic foods were within allowable safety limits, though it's not clear what that means to consumers' health. Those who buy organic foods often claim they do it because it's safer, kinder to the environment, and they're healthier. Dr. Hauser, a certified chef, nutrition educator, and clinical fellow in medicine at Harvard Medical School, claims in the article/study, "Just because these foods aren't going over what they call an 'acceptable limit' doesn't mean they're safe for everyone,"(article). Dr. Hauser makes a great point here, just because the product is organic doesn't mean it's necessarily healthier to consume. In the study, they claim that the same kind of bacteria that causes food poisoning were equally present in both organic and non-organic food products. 

Buying organic foods won't make you any healthier than buying non-organic foods. They both are the same when it comes to nutrition because there's no solid evidence that agrees with the claim. However, this claim is considered to have a lot of mixed opinions within the nutrition world. According the article from Healthline, an organic product can be slightly more nutritious, "due to natural variation in food handling and production."(Healthline). However, again, there's just no solid evidence to back this claim up. 

Sources: 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/organic-food-no-more-nutritious-than-conventionally-grown-food-201209055264

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-is-organic-food#more-nutrients

Answer 10

The claim that organic food is significantly more nutritious, and better for you, than conventionally grown food is not strongly supported by scientific evidence. According to a Harvard Health article, studies have found no consistent differences in the nutrient content of organic versus conventional produce. A 2014 meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that organic crops may have slightly higher levels of certain antioxidants, but the overall nutritional differences are modest. Additionally, while organic foods generally have lower pesticide residues, the EPA states that the levels of pesticide residues found on conventional foods are usually within safe limits. Therefore, while organic foods may offer benefits such as reduced pesticide exposure and environmental sustainability, claims about their superior nutrition should be viewed with caution.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/organic-food-no-more-nutritious-than-conventionally-grown-food-201209055264

https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/food-and-pesticides

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24968103/

Comments

Your claim is nicely put together, I love the details you added to this claim. You talked deeply about nutrition and how it affects the body.

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This is a good fact check. This is well put together. I like how you talk about that organic may provide benefits and reduced pesticide.