London study on organic nutrition challenged

The leading organic farming and food group in the UK dismisses the sweeping conclusion of a recent research review that concluded there was no significant nutritional difference between organic and non-organically grown food.

A Soil Association spokesman explained that some of the most significant comparative research was excluded by the review’s technical protocol requirements. Further, instances of organic nutritional superiority that the researches did find and list in their review of 162 studies were termed insignificant for public health benefit.

Editor’s note: Locking in on exact human health benefits which come from specific nutrients is a complex assessment, varying by individual biochemistry, overall diet and healthfulness, and how the nutrients are ingested. Comparing organic v. non-organic nutritional distinctives requires a further level of complexity to account for varietal, soil condition, farm management and other growing system influences— which is rarely done. The best research-based answers so far are mostly limited to specific nutrient differences coming from carefully paired trials in long-term farming systems.

Full story: Soil Association

Back story: BBC News