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[SANET-MG] have british food academics gone rancid?
The article below seem to consist of snooty comments form an
accomplished twit. I am reminded of the reply to my comment about a
study promoting GM sweet corn which was produced using methods that
normally are considered fraud, the editor of the British Food Journal
defended the publication noting that there was a common misconception
that science was about facts. In the article below a number of
significantly different values showing improved nutrients in organic
crops was dismissed for being unimportant. The same kind of snide
comments are used to dismissed the numerous significant differences
between GM crops and unmodified crops found in the regulatory reviews of
GM crops. I guess that the take home lesson from this is that
significant differences no longer matter, findings have to be found
agreeable to corporation public relations people in order to be called
"science" in academe.
C. S. Williamson (2007)
Is organic food better for our health?
Nutrition Bulletin 32 (2), 104–108.
doi:10.1111/j.1467-3010.2007.00628.
From the conclusions to the "review"
Studies comparing the nutrient composition of organic and non-organic
foods are limited in number, and there is a lack of good-quality
research in this area. Few differences in nutrient composition between
organic and non-organic foods have been reported, although there is some
evidence that organically produced potatoes and leafy vegetables may
have a higher vitamin C content and lower nitrate levels. There have
also been studies showing some nutritional differences between organic
and non-organic milk.
Although these findings are interesting, there are many important
nutrients for which no significant differences have been found (e.g.
calcium in milk). Furthermore, the few differences in nutrient
composition that have been reported are unlikely to have a significant
impact on human health. However, much more research is still needed,
particularly to determine whether there are any nutritional differences
between organic and non-organic fish, meat and other animal products.
More research is also required in the area of phytochemicals, such as
flavonoids and carotenoids (if the potential health benefits are found
to be evident).
Therefore, from a nutritional perspective, there is currently not enough
evidence to recommend organic foods over conventionally produced foods.
In terms of maintaining good health, it is more important to consume a
healthy, balanced diet which is rich in fruit and vegetables, regardless
of whether the foods have been produced organically or not.
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