When I arrived in South Carolina this September, one of the first things my aunt told me over a meal was something like, “Well, did you hear the news that organic food is not that healthy after all—it doesn’t make any difference!” I was surprised and intrigued, especially since she had heard the story on the cable news. Let me be clear, I’m a big believer in organic foods and have eaten a mostly organic diet for upwards of 25 years. My aunt, on the other hand, comes from a generation that just doesn’t get why someone would chose to pay double the cost or more for food—especially vegetables.
After my aunt’s announcement, as the days went by, controversy blew about, with folks from both sides arguing their points. The news coverage I heard implied that the Stanford University study had found no evidence that organic foods were any safer or more nutritious than conventionally grown foods. I just had to see what this study actually said, so I went on down to the UCSF Medical Library, which if you didn’t already know is a public library where you can get free access to health science papers in their entirety. Continue reading “Organic? Or not? That’s the Question at Hand”