Is Organic Food Really More Nutritious?

The jury's out on this one. Organic producers say a resounding "yes!", citing research that indicates there are higher levels of vitamin C, essential minerals and phyto (plant) nutrients in organic produce.

"The quality of food has definitely gone down since the second world war," states the website Organicfoodinfo.net. "For instance, the levels of vitamin C in today's fruit bear no resemblance to the levels found in wartime fruit.

"Organic food is known to contain 50% more nutrients, minerals and vitamins than produce that has been intensively farmed."

The steep rise in the popularity of organic foods is as much a testament to the belief in what it doesn't contain (toxins, pesticides and chemicals) as to what it does contain.

But food experts with no vested interest are more circumspect. According to the website of the Food Advisory Consumer Service (FACS), "There's no conclusive scientific research to recommend the use of organic food as a superior source of nutrients to conventionally farmed food."