Organic food: nutritious food or food for thought? A review of the evidence

By Magkos,-F; Arvaniti,-F; Zampelas,-A

Abstract
One of the main factors that cause consumers to buy organic foods is the perception that they are more nutritious than conventional foods. In this article, existing literature concerning the nutritional value of organic produce is reviewed.

Aspects considered include: difficulties in compiling results; results from comparative studies (vegetable group (DM, vitamins, minerals and trace elements), fruit group (vitamins, minerals and trace elements), carbohydrate group (cereals and legumes, vitamins, minerals and trace elements), milk and meat group); and animal feeding experiments.

It is concluded that a balanced diet, rich in fruits and vegetables and adequate in food from the other groups, is unequivocally able to maintain and improve health, regardless of its organic or conventional origin.

Citation
International-Journal-of-Food-Sciences-and-Nutrition. 2003; 54(5): 357-371

IS: 0963-7486
UD: 200401
AN: 2004-01-Aj0121