Chanda ranga: Healthy Organic Meals

Tuesday, 7 August 2012

Healthy Organic Meals

(CNN) -- Growth hormones in cows, pesticides on produce and antibiotics in poultry -- these are among the reasons many Americans are turning to organic foods. In fact, sales of organics have surged more than 20 percent each year in the past decade. According to the Food Marketing Institute, more than half of Americans now buy organic food at least once a month.
But whether organic chicken or pesticide-free lettuce represent "healthier" alternatives has long been a subject for debate.
Proponents, such as Katherine DiMatteo, executive director of the Organic Trade Association, cite the fact that organics are grown under strict standards of purity based on the elimination of toxic agricultural chemicals.
DiMatteo says even the soil is better: "The soil that organic is grown in is healthier. This comes from the fact that the soil has nutrient value. Healthy soil, healthy plants."
But any suggestion organic food is somehow superior doesn't sit well with Alex Avery, director of research at The Hudson Institute Center for Global Food Issues.
"Organic foods have never been shown to be healthier, more nutritious or more safe than conventional foods," said Avery, "despite dozens of scientific studies. There is no weight that organic is better or healthier for you."
Avery's institute is funded in part by companies that profit from the sale of pesticides, such as Monsanto, DowElanco and Ag-Chem Equipment Company.
Avery said some organics can make you sicker than conventional food.
"Because organic foods use pathogen-laden manure as their primary fertilizer, organic foods may pose a higher risk of foodborne-illness than conventional foods," he said, adding that damage from pests is likely to be greater, as well, and that could translate to more fungal growth, or colonization by molds. Some of these organisms produce toxins. One of them, aflatoxin, is considered highly carcinogenic.