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Re: British Beef Situation
In article <445@vishwa.win-uk.net>, David Scott Libby
<dslibby@vishwa.win-uk.net> writes
>
>In this study, the inorganic vegetables were bought at a standard
>supermarket and compared with organic vegetables grown in
>naturally-fertilised soil.
Frankly I doubt these figures.
Applied soil trace elements, Brian E. Davies ISBN 0471 27625 1 quotes
for levels in leaves: (ppm)
Deficient Sufficient Excessive or Toxic
Cu <4 5-20 >20
Fe <50 50-250 not known
Mn <20 20-500 >500
Zn <20 25-150 >400
Whilst there are variations between species the deficiency levels can be
considered pretty safe although some species may be deficient at higher
levels.
The very high levels of copper in the organic samples are either
indicative of having been grown on seriously polluted soil, were
inadequately washed before sampling (ie a crummy and useless analyst),
or show the entire analysis to have been seriously compromised. These
levels are well above the toxic level for copper. In short, the results
are garbage.
The iron levels in the 'supermarket' vegatables is so low that serious
chlorosis would be obvious and the plants took visibly sick (dead, is
probably a better description). Since supermarkets would instantly
reject such produce, I don't believe these either. The same applies to
manganese, these crops would have died in the field long before being
harvested. In short these results are total garbage.
The total ash contents are also rather strange. 10.4% total ash for
organic cabbage vs 6.1 for supermarket. The typical analysis I have for
drumhead cabbage is 11%. Since total ash typically contains quite a bit
of silica it can be rather variable, I suppose. I am being charitable
here.
You do not give protein levels. This is unfortunate.
I would typically expect organic produce to have one or two of
potassiun, phosphorus or protein high and one or two low compared to
conventionally grown produce. This would reflect the imbalance of
available plant nutrients, for example the potash levels are very high
which is classic for a nitrogen deficient (or over fertilised with
potash) soil since plants always take all the potash out they can scour
>from the soil. Since the phosphate levels are high (assuming a missed
decimal point as they should be 2-4%) I would guess a shortage of
nitrogen. Of course I might also suspect the figures themselves as being
a mite bogus.
If you explain what you mean by milliequivalents I will comment further,
although the plain inaccuracies would tend me to think that someone with
little knowledge has dreamed them up for popular consumption.
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
> | |
>Percentage of Dry Weight| Millequivalents | Trace Elements in
> | per 100gm Dry Weight | Parts per Million
>*(1) Total Ash/ Nineral | | (Dry Matter)
> Matter | |
> | |
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
> *(1) P | Ca Mg K Na B Mn Fe Cu Co
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>SNAP BEANS
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>Organic 10.45 0.36 | 40.5 60.0 99.7 8.6 | 73 60 227 69 .26
>Non-Org 4.04 0.22 | 15.5 14.8 29.1 0.0 | 10 2 10 3 .00
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>CABBAGE
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>Organic 10.38 0.38 | 60.0 43.6 148.3 20.4| 42 13 94 48 .15
>Non-Org 6.12 0.18 | 17.5 15.6 53.7 0.8 | 7 2 20 0.4 .00
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>LETTUCE
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>Organic 24.48 0.43 | 71.0 49.3 176.5 12.2| 37 169 516 60 .19
>Non-Org 7.01 0.22 | 16.0 13.1 53.7 0.0 | 6 1 9 3 .00
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>TOMATOES
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>Organic 14.20 0.35 | 23.0 59.2 148.3 6.5 | 36 68 1938 53 .63
>Non-Org 6.07 0.16 | 4.5 4.5 58.8 0.0 | 5 1 1 0 .00
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>SPINACH
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>Organic 28.56 0.52 | 96.0 203.9 257.0 69.5| 88 117 1584 32 .25
>Non-Org 12.38 0.27 | 47.5 46.9 84.6 0.8| 12 1 19 0.5 .20
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>CONCLUSION: Commercially grown, inorganic vegetables are very low in mineral
>and trace mineral content.
-------------------------------
'Oz "When I knew little, all was certain. The more I learnt,
the less sure I was. Is this the uncertainty principle?"
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