Is It True? Organic food is no healthier, study finds

Organic food is no healthier, study finds
Published July 29, 2009LONDON (Reuters) - Organic food has no nutritional or health benefits over ordinary food, according to a major study published on Wednesday.

Researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine said consumers were paying higher prices for organic food because of its perceived health benefits, creating a global organic market worth an estimated $48 billion in 2007.

A systematic review of 162 scientific papers published in the scientific literature over the last 50 years, however, found there was no significant difference.

"A small number of differences in nutrient content were found to exist between organically and conventionally produced foodstuffs, but these are unlikely to be of any public health relevance," said Alan Dangour, one of the report's authors.

"Our review indicates that there is currently no evidence to support the selection of organically over conventionally produced foods on the basis of nutritional superiority."

The results of the research, which was commissioned by the British government's Food Standards Agency, were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Sales of organic food have fallen in some markets, including Britain, as recession has led consumers to cut back on purchases.

The Soil Association said in April that growth in sales of organic products in Britain slowed to just 1.7 percent in 2008, well below the average annual growth rate of 26 percent over the last decade, following a plunge in demand at the end of the year. ($1=.6107 Pound)

Daily Horoscopes Aug 1 2009

Daily Overview: August 01, 2009

ARIES March 21-April 19

Your amazing mental energy helps you maintain your own POV throughout a day full of folks who want to sway you to their way of thinking. You should be able to stay as independent as you wish!

TAURUS April 20-May 20

See if you can get your people to be more social today -- the energy of the universe is pushing you into new encounters, and you'd rather they happen when you're part of a group than one-on-one.

GEMINI May 21-June 21

You aren't quite as able to get people to see things your way today -- but you only make things worse if you redouble your efforts and try to force the issue! Chill out and wait for round two

CANCER June 22-July 22

Your own personal growth is incredibly important right now, so do something that's all about you. Your energy may be a bit out of sync with other people anyway, so you're not missing out on much.

LEO July 23-August 22

You've got plenty to say, and not a lot of time to say it. Things should be moving along at quite a clip anyway, so you'd almost certainly rather not derail them with extended conversations.


VIRGO August 23-September 22

You're pretty good at self-discipline, and today that trait comes in handy as you face a daunting to-do list. Force yourself to tackle it in the right order, instead of doing the fun stuff first.

LIBRA September 23-October 22

You're in the best possible position to communicate important feelings to family members, coworkers or pretty much anyone else. Your mind is sharper and more focused than usual, too!

SCORPIO October 23 - November 21

Let yourself be persuaded today -- you may not feel like a pushover, but it's a good time for you to cede control (temporarily) to someone else. Try it on like a pair of shoes, then walk away.



SAGITTARIUS November 22-December 21

Your admiration for someone close is fully reflected today, and you should find that you're even better off socially than you were just a short time ago. Make the most of it and move forward!



CAPRICORN December 22-January 19

Sometimes your ideals can get in the way of your fun, but today the two are totally intertwined! It's a good time for volunteer work, fundraising or any other activities that make the world a better place.

AQUARIUSJanuary 20-February 18

You may be the welcome wagon today, no matter where you find yourself. Your social energy is perfect for making introductions and letting people relax in uncomfortable surroundings, so go for it!

PISCES February 19-March 20


You need to be a little more careful with your words today -- you never know what you might accidentally drop! You may have to just stick closely with those who are already in on the big secret.