We hear lots of talk about organic vs. conventional. And it can be confusing. Even to us! So, we put on our detective hats again and got on the organic trail for some concrete answers.
Here’s what we found:
There’s been a whole lotta talk about the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists. The lists supposedly inform consumers which foods have the most pesticide residue – buy organic for your health is the message. Apples top the list of the most dirty fruit.
The Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen have been everywhere. The Huffington Post. PBS. Waves of environmental groups. Even the School of Nutrition at Tufts University is on board. So the lists must be right?
Dr. Carl Winter at UC Davis adamantly states that the list doesn’t make sense. Dr. Carl Winter at UC Davis found that the levels of pesticide residue found by the Dirty Dozen study were thousands of times lower than the levels known to cause any negative effect on laboratory animals. In fact, according to Dr. Winter the Dirty Dozen study “lacks scientific credibility”. Bam.
But wait, there’s more!
So this Dirty Dozen list is all wrong? Not necessarily.
Follow the money, said grandpa. A journalist alleges that Dr. Winter is supported by large food companies that don’t want the public to eat organic. McDonald’s seems to be on board. So does the company that makes Mars bars.
Phew. Our heads are spinning.
So what does all this mean?
Firstly, eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Organic or not, produce does wonders for your health.
Secondly, get your information from as many sources as you can. Then make your own decision. We’d make healthy eating easy as pie if we could, but it ain’t.
Live well. Know your facts. We salute you!