License: Creative Commons 
image source 
"Where do you stand in the organic vs. conventional food debate? Contradictory data makes it difficult to decide; here are two more studies to muddy the water. "
If you want to eat healthily and save the planet you have to go organic, right? That’s what we’ve been told for the past few years. Scary investigations into the harmful long-term effects of pesticides have bolstered the organic movement, and moved it along faster than it otherwise would. The glut of eco-conscience-related information available has also aided the cause.

But not everyone has bought into it. Dissenters argue that there is no clear-cut evidence proving that organic food is healthier than non-organic. They argue that the benefits are not as great as touted and that the industry is not properly regulated. And they don’t believe that organic food is worth the extra cost.

First of all
In case you’ve been living under a rock, organic food is grown completely naturally. Nothing artificial or chemical taints the process. Natural compost and manure is the way to go and only natural pest control measures are used, such as ‘good’ insects and birds.

Meat can also be organic. Animals that have been fed only natural (organic) food and which haven’t been pumped full of growth hormones are considered organic. Organic is usually but not always free-range meat. Free-range meat is not always organic. Free-range just means that the animals aren’t cooped-up in cruel cages. It doesn’t mean that their diets are organic.

Is it really better?
The evidence isn’t in, so the jury can’t be out.Mayo Clinic says that in the past 50-odd years, no one has been able to conclusively prove that organic food is better for you than conventionally-produced food. But researchers are on a mission to produce concrete evidence one way or another, which is why we see results of new studies published roughly once a week.

One of the most recent studies showed that despite the care taken to remove anything artificial and chemical from the production process, organic food still contains BPA (Bisphenol A) and phthalates, which are carcinogenic chemicals most often found in plastic containers.

A research team, whose members came from the Seattle Children’s Research Institute, the University of Washington’s Departments of Pediatrics and Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, British Columbia Children’s Hospital, and Canada’s Simon Fraser University, found that BPA and phthalates may be impossible to avoid, no matter how careful you are with your diet (redorbit.com).

Apparently, even if you eat only organic food and never let it come into contact with plastic containers during preparation, cooking and storing, you are still exposed to these dangerous chemicals. Even worse, you might end up with higher levels of the chemicals than people who don’t make much effort to avoid them.

Exactly why this is so is not yet known. The scientists were taken by surprise. But, you can bet your boots that more studies will be undertaken, probably at this very moment.

You’re a big meanie

On a slightly more frivolous note, a study by students at Loyola University (New Orleans) has found that people who regularly buy organic food are mean. No, really. According to one US psychologist, the reason is that people start to feel so secure in themselves (in their invulnerability?) that they don’t feel the need to be considerate towards others. And, they become more judgemental.

Conversely, comfort food makes people friendlier and kinder and less judgemental.Precisely how the organic nature of food is linked to social conscience is unclear.But, you can rest assured that some of the top scientists in the world are looking in to it.

Sandy Cosser is by no means a health food junkie but she does enjoy the occasional trip to vegan and organic restaurants and markets, many of which feature on private tours in and around Cape Town.