Is there any point getting into buying organic products?

[danjrad]

I'm new here and would like help with some matters of my family's weekly food shop

My spouse and I were discussing whether to be more conscious about buying organic products when shopping..

I'm quite cynical about it however, and have read accounts of the organic label meaning very little, and not even having a totally positive impact on the environment.

My wife however believes it has real health benefits - but going around shops like Planet Organic it seems like a bit of a con!

Does anyone have any views - I'm willing to be swayed!

[Leeks]

I think it does have health benefits -- for the planet. Also the welfare of animals in organic meats is much much better.

[PhilFreeToAsk]

I assume by family that you have children too. I believe that you are making a statement to yourself and children when you consider buying organic buy showing that you care about food production, environment and animal welfare. It would be wonderful if we could all eat fresh organic food but we would need to have deep pockets.

I just thought this illustrates the point in a newspaper article just about eggs:

• Caged Eggs. Now banned by EU as it was deemed so inhumane.

• Barn Eggs. Up to 9 hens per square metre. Regarded as not much better than caged birds.

• Free Range. Access to the outside. Beak trimming allowed.

• Organic. “According to Compassion in World Farming, organically reared hens offer the highest potential standards of animal welfare. They enjoy more access to the outdoors than non-organic free-range birds and less crowded living conditions indoors. Routine beak trimming is not permitted under the rules of the Soil Association. ”

See telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrin...

I can understand why you may think it is a con but providing it has the correct certification (e.g. Soil Assoiciation or EU organic regulation) then the produce has to be produced to strict standards.

[Fiornn]

I would say, as someone who works on a small organic holding, that selectively yes. To qualify that, l personally don't trust a lot of foreign organic claims especially places like China, but l know from first hand experience how strict UK & Irish regulators are. Also some things are more worth buying organic than others. Heavily sprayed conventional crops include carrots, lettuces, apples, wheat, celery for example but buying organic coconuts may be less necessary. So you can choose a few key essentials fororganic purchases without having to break the bank going full blown on everything.

Regards Fiornn

[Hogwild752]

If you just want to dip your toe in the organic pool, start with fruits and veggies where you'll be eating the outside. Something like apples unless you always peel them. Then for items that you only eat the inside, don't spend the extra money on them until you've decided to go whole hog with the organic.

[Hidden]

I would love to buy all organic food but unfortunately I cannot afford it. This is something that angers me an awful lot because when I was a child all food was natural, nothing was sprayed!!

[Hidden]

Interesting question. Another poster has mentioned the planet. Research has shown no difference in nutrients. However with our new found interest in the microbiome I would imagine it has a very different effect.

We are now told dirt is good and it even helps our mental health. It would make sense to me that the chemical manipulation of food would have a less positive effect on the microbiome than plants which have not been chemicalised

[Hidden]

Don't remember who did the research. I think I've seen it a few times, once on Horizon if I remember correctly. AFAICR the vitamins etc were the same. About the micronutrients I just don't recall.

Another poster mentioned being selective about the source of organic food. I would agree . The EU has strict rules on labelling but we just don't know enough about the rules in say South America. So I'd pay extra to buy organic food from Holland say, but not outside Europe.