UK - DEFRA Secretary Slams Organic Foods, Gets An Earful From Farmers, Consumers - Guardian

[hatrack]

The organic food industry rounded on a government minister yesterday after he said there was no proof that organic produce was healthier than ordinary food. David Miliband, the environment, food and rural affairs secretary, said that buying organic food was a "lifestyle choice", and produce grown with the use of pesticides and other chemicals should not be regarded as second-best.

His views were condemned as "patronising" to consumers and "insulting" to organic farmers by the Soil Association, the organic farmers' organisation. Its director, Patrick Holden, said: "I actually think it is rather sad because it suggests that David Miliband is profoundly ignorant of the benefits that are motivating people to buy organic food. The industry has grown without the support of the government and we thought we finally had it on our side. I find it amazing the minister is being so dismissive." Asked about the benefits claimed for organic food, Mr Miliband said: "It's a lifestyle choice that people can make. There isn't any conclusive evidence either way."

Peter Melchett, also of the Soil Association, said: "Half the baby food market is organic. This isn't just posh people making lifestyle choices. It's about people being worried about the quality of the food they give their babies and worried about the use of pesticides and antibiotics." Mr Miliband told the Sunday Times: "It's only 4% of total farm produce, not 40%, and I would not want to say that 96% of our farm produce is inferior because it's not organic." He added that although the rise of organics was "exciting", shoppers should not regard ordinary food as "second best".

EDIT

The Food Standards Agency has argued that there is no nutritional difference between organic and intensively farmed food. However, a new study shows that a pint of organic milk has on average 68% more omega 3 fatty acids, which are vital for normal brain functioning, than conventional milk.

EDIT/END

http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,1985080,00.html

[hughee99]

1. Not their best argument...

Mr. Miliband says that there's no proof that organic food is any healthier than non-organic food. The pro-organic food spokespeople take issue with this, but seem to be citing their increased market share as evidence that it is healthier. All that this really just shows, though, is that it is PERCEIVED to be healthier. The only evidence that seems to be presented in this article to refute Mr. Miliband's claim is the study on organic milk. Did I miss something?

[hatrack]

2. Definitely agree on this point

They should be talking about the lessened environmental impact of organic methods - w/o pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc.

[mainegreen]

3. If you can taste the difference then there *is* a difference.

Your tongue is a bitchin' chemical detection device.

EOM.

[hughee99]

4. I don't think he was saying there's no difference at all...

just that there's no scientific evidence that one is healthier than the other.

[mainegreen]

5. I guess I was just saying that since it seems all organic food tastes better,

and that my tongue is the result of a long history of evolution, I'm inclined to trust what my tongue is telling me: eat organic. I suspect that since it tastes better it probably is better. Not that convention food is necessarily bad for you, but I doubt it's as good for you either!

[kestrel91316]

6. Since when was choosing organic only about whether or not

it was healthier for the end consumer??? I like organics because they are healthier for the planet and my fellow human beings............I guess I'm weird.

Is this idiot suggesting that when pesticides are used they only wind up on the food (and are harmless there), and don't wind up in the environment or affecting farm workers?????

[Nihil]

7. David Miliband is a Grade A wanker.

> ... buying organic food was a "lifestyle choice", and produce grown
> with the use of pesticides and other chemicals should not be regarded
> as second-best.

So, he is claiming that it is not better to eat

X grams of organic FoodItem

than

(X-Y) grams of factory FoodItem
plus Y grams of pesticides, insecticides, growth hormones and other "filler".

:wow:

Moreover, he is claiming that the difference between "food" and "food+crap"
is merely a "lifestyle choice"?

:argh: