Organic Food Vs Organic Foods

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Organic farming is a way of producing food without synthetic chemicals or genetically modified components (Better Health, 2017). Consumers and health experts continue to debate whether there are any nutritional or safety differences between organic and conventional food (Watson, 2012). There is contradicting evidence surrounding the issue, and many choose to eat organic foods as they believe they have higher nutritional outcomes and less chemical residues than conventional foods. Others believe that conventional foods are no worse for health than their organic counterparts.
Background
Organic food producers and farmers omit using genetically modified components and synthetic chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers when producing …show more content…

The findings of a 2014 study led by Prof. Carlo Leifert at Newcastle University show that organic crops are up to 60% higher in a number of key antioxidants than conventional crops. The study, which analysed 343 studies into the compositional differences between organic and conventional crops, concluded that antioxidant levels in organic food were considerably higher - between 19% and 69% - than conventional food. (Arnett and Carrington, 2014). The study also found that switching conventional fruits, vegetables and cereals for organic ones would provide antioxidants comparable to eating 1-2 extra portions of fruit each day (Newcastle University, 2015). Research also suggests that antioxidants are linked to a reduced risk of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease and certain cancers (Arnett and Carrington, 2014). Not only is there evidence of higher nutrients in organic fruits, vegetables and cereals, but the results of a 2016 European study show that nutrients in organic meats and dairy may be higher than their conventional counterparts. The study found that nutrient levels, including omega-3 fatty acids were up to 50% higher in organic meat and milk than their conventional counterparts (HelpGuide, 2017).
Leifert’s 2014 study also found that levels of toxic heavy metals, including cadmium, were lower in 50% lower in organic crops than

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