A US study has claimed the consumption of organic food is beneficial to children’s health.
The news could add fuel to the debate surrounding the use of organic food in schools, following on from FPJ’s report last week on former Food Standards Agency boss Sir John Krebs calling for less focus on organics in schools.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science, based in St Louis, said organic diets lower children’s exposure to two common pesticides used in the US - malathion and chlorpyrifos.
The report, which is being highlighted by the UK’s Soil Association, claimed that the substitution of organic food for children’s normal diets substantially decreased the pesticide concentration to non-detectable levels.
The research measured the exposure in 23 children, aged between three and 11-years-old, by testing their urine over a 15-day period. The group was first monitored for three days on their conventional diets, then for five days on an organic diet and finally for a further seven days back on ordinary consumption. According to researcher Dr Chensheng Lu, there was “a dramatic and immediate protective effect” against the pesticides until the conventional diets were re-introduced.
The study is likely to add to the debate on organic, since up until now, as maintained by Sir John, there has been no scientific evidence that organics are healthier.
The issue has divided the fresh produce industry. Our freshinfo poll revealed 49 per cent felt organic was not the better option for schools, versus 48 per cent.
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