In its first official report on organic foods, the American Academy of Pediatrics said this week that organic and conventionally produced foods are nutritionally equivalent.
This report follows the famous Stanford study debunking the common equation of organic with healthier, finding no nutritional or safety differences between foods produced according to organic standards and those produced by means of conventional agricultural methods.
"The most important thing is to eat a healthy diet," Dr. Joel Forman of New York s Mount Sinai Hospital told reporters. The report states that children will be just as healthy eating a balanced diet of conventionally grown fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products. And that while organic produce probably will reduce children s exposure to pesticides, it should not be bought if buying organic means that a family can t buy as many healthy foods, the report says.
ACSH s Dr. Ruth Kava is happy to see the Academy release this report. Even though there is no scientific evidence that organic is in any way better or more nutritious than conventional, many people continue to opt for the former, she says. Perhaps the report released by the American Academy of Pediatrics will help parents realize that there really is no nutritional difference between the two.