Is Organic Food Always Healthy Food?

The New York Times food journalist Julia Moskin had an article recently in which she took a closer look at the Similac organic formula, and found that it’s significantly sweeter than other formulas. It is the only major brand of organic formula that is sweetened with cane sugar, or sucrose, which is much sweeter than sugars used in other formulas (most baby formulas use lactose, or milk sugar, which is also the sugar in breast milk).

The downside to using the cheaper cane sugar is that sucrose can harm tooth enamel faster than other sugars, sweeter taste is habit forming and these babies might resist less sweet formulas or solid foods. Also, some studies suggest that babies fed sweeter food might overeat and gain weight too rapidly, which may lead to obesity later on.

So while the formula is organic -- and many parents rushed to buy it, viewing the organic seal as a seal of health, no questions asked -- this is an example of food producers following the rules of organic production by the letter, while not following it in spirit.

A few weeks ago I wrote a post in which I stated my belief that organic food is better for consumers, and better for the environment. I stand by it. Organic food has fewer synthetic chemicals, and every acre converted to organic farming is an acre saved from contamination with fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides.

However, “organic” doesn’t automatically mean “ready to eat now” or even necessarily “good for you”.

A common misconception I’ve encountered is that organic produce doesn’t need to be washed. Organic produce does need to be washed – and washed thoroughly. While organic food does not have chemicals coating it, microbial life is teeming between the leaves. Wildlife visit the fields and can contaminate produce in any number of ways. All produce is handled by many human hands that aren’t necessarily free of harmful bacteria. And it’s more than likely that produce has been in contact with many surfaces that aren’t designed to be free of disease-causing germs.

Organic candy, organic soda or organic French fries, while still a tiny bit better because they’re free of pesticides, are still (organic) junk food, and should be eaten infrequently. So you do need to read the labels on organic foods carefully. If the food is full of sugars, fats, salt or calories, it’s a dessert, and shouldn’t be viewed as a “health food” (whatever that means).

“Organic” is not a panacea for all of life’s ills. While it would be nice if organic food folded the laundry and grew hair on bald spots, all kidding aside, it’s vitally important that we understand and apply the limits of what can be expected from organic food.

The organic seal promises that the food has been farmed according to the organic standards -- which are better for you and for the environment. But it doesn’t mean the food itself can’t be junk.

Ayala