6 MYTHS ABOUT ORGANICS

MYTH 1
Organic food is always better for the environment
Organics don’t contaminate soil and groundwater with pesticides and chemicals like regular farming does, but there’s a surprising downside. Since organic farming only about half as productive as conventional farming, it requires far more land to produce the same amount of food. Hudson Institute’s Center for Global Food Issues estimates that modern high-yield farming has saved 15 million square miles of wildlife habitat, and that if the world switched to organic farming we’d need to cut down 10 million square miles of forest. Less-productive farming could also lead to even less food for the world’s undermourished.

MYTH 2
It’s more nutritious
Many studies have showed the differences between organics and non-organics foods. One found more vitamin C in organic tomatoes than in conventional ones; another found more cancer-fighting flavonoids in organic corn and strawberries. But other studies haven’t found organics to have a nutritional edge. What makes the biggest difference in nutrients is how long produce sits on the shelf. Spinach, for instance, loses about half of its folate within a week.

MYTH 3
It tastes better
Nobody has been able to tell the difference except in one study of apples, where organics came out ahead. To get raspberries that raspberrier, buy produce that’s locally grown, is in season, and hasn’t been sitting on the shelf too long. Let’s face it: Nothing is at its best when it’s flown halfway around the world and waxed, then has to spend a week in the grocery store.

MYTH 4
You don’t have to be as careful about washing it
All produce, whether purchased from a grocery megachain or your local organic farm, is susceptible to nasty bacteria, such as E. coli. Soil and runoff water that’s contaminated with E. coli, particularly melons, lettuce, sprouts, tomatoes, spinach, and green onions, since they grow close to the ground. Your best defense: Wash every-thing thoroughly under running water.

MYTH 5
You’re supporting small farms or eco-companies
General Mills owns the Cascadian Farms brand, Kraft owns Back to Nature and Boca Burger, and Kellogg’s owns Morning-star Farms, to name a few conglomerates basking in organics glow. And with such high demand, these giant companies are importing organic ingredients as cheaply as possible. Whole Foods sold roughly $ 1 billion in produce last year, only about 16 percent was locally grown. So with all the CO2 spent in transport, some organics have questionable eco-virtues.

MYTH 6
It’s better for you
Not if it’s organic chips, organic soda, or organic cookies. Cane sugar is still sugar and fried chips are still fried, no matter what kind of compost was or wasn’t heaped onto the potatoes.