February 28, 2008
Eat Your Veggies, Organic or Otherwise
By JIM HAZEN
GUEST COLUMNIST
Fruits and vegetables are safe and healthy food choices for adults and children, regardless of whether they're grown using conventional or organic methods. No credible scientific study has demonstrated anything else.
A recent study by Chensheng Lu once again confirmed that organic produce is no more healthful than conventionally grown fruits and vegetables. The Seattle P-I turned the study on its head, shedding more heat than light on the subject with an article ("Harmful pesticides found in everyday food products," Jan. 30) and subsequent editorial.
According to the Mayo Clinic, no medical or scientific data demonstrates organic produce to be safer or more nutritious than conventionally grown food. A number of European organizations support that assessment, including the Food Standards Agency, the French Food Safety Agency and the Swedish National Food Administration. They all conclude there is no difference in food safety and nutrition between organic and conventional. Good old-fashioned marketing and advertising have made organic food what it is today: the all-purpose salve for what ails Americans.
Lu's study demonstrates fruits and vegetables are safe for people of all ages to consume, no matter how produced. The research shows that health risks associated with conventional fruits and vegetables is zero. More important, his study shows that just because you can count something doesn't mean it counts. Infinitesimal levels of all kinds of chemicals exist in all human bodies. "Detectable" levels of radiation exist all around us. But none of those represents a threat to human health -- at least not according to scientists who actually have researched the subject.
In the P-I's meritorious efforts to improve public health for all, perhaps a more useful focus would be the primary source of toxins in adults and children: the more than 150 chemicals found in the typical American home. If you're looking for regular and significant exposure to toxic chemicals, check out laundry detergent, plastics, cleaners, tobacco, cosmetics, shampoos, lotions and even children's toys. Research has demonstrated the threat posed by chemicals in those widely used products. It has not demonstrated any health risk from eating fruits and vegetables.
The truth is, U.S. life expectancy has been climbing for some time in part because of the increasing affordability and availability of fruits and vegetables. Keep in mind that the life expectancy curve precedes the aggressive marketing of organic produce. In addition, U.S. cancer rates are leveling off or declining across the board. Again one reason cited is better dietary choices that include more fruits and vegetables. The cancer-decline curve also predates the wildly successful marketing of organic products.
Science also has other good news. An apple a day actually does help keep the doctor away. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables help prevent stroke, heart attack and cancer. People who eat apples and cherries and pears instead of high-fat snacks weigh less and have more energy. All apples are full of vitamins that build blood cells, keeps teeth and gums healthy and aid in the growth and repair of all body tissue.
People thirsting for better health should keep buying and consuming fruits and vegetables. The point is that if you truly want to eat healthfully, organic or conventionally grown doesn't matter. Fruits and vegetables are good for you. That's a fact. And good health is built on facts, not marketing.
