Are Organic Foods More Nutritious Than Conventional Foods?

Organic food sales reached US$26.7 billion in 2010. Researchers conducted a systematic analysis of peer-reviewed studies published from 1966 to 2011 to examine whether organic foods are more nutritious and safer than conventionally produced foods.

Of 5908 potentially relevant studies identified by searching 7 databases, 237 studies met the criteria for inclusion. Most studies (223) compared organic and conventional fruits, vegetables, grains, meats, poultry, milk, or eggs directly. Overall, no evidence was found to support the hypothesis that organic foods are more nutritious than conventionally produced food. No differences were found in vitamin content, beneficial fatty acids, or other nutrients. Many studies (52% of produce studies) exami…