The Truth About Organic Foods

Alex Avery
November 2, 2006

Scientists with the FDA and CDFA announced on Thursday that the ranch linked to the spinach E. coli outbreak was not an intensive, feedlot-style beef farm as has been alleged by organic farming activist groups. In fact, the farm – the only one on which E. coli strains matching those that sickened over 200 and killed three people in August and September – raised only grass-fed beef cattle. This is the type of operation that organic activists have falsely claimed is virtually immune to harboring and spreading the deadly O157:H7 strain of E. coli. As the FDA and CDFA scientists explained to reporters, all ruminant animals no matter how they are raised can and do carry and spread E. coli O157:H7.

For questions about the findings, contact Michael Herndon of the FDA Public Affairs at (301)827-6242. Consumers can listen to the entire conference call with reporters from Thursday, October 26, by calling 866-413-9173.  

Alex Avery
November 2, 2006

A comprehensive analysis of data and methods from a widely cited 2001 study published in the journal Nature that claimed conventional apple production methods were six times worse for the environment, in fact, shows that the conventional methods have only one quarter of the environmental impact [than organic farming methods have] and are far more protective of human and farm worker health. (Read on …)

Alex Avery
November 2, 2006

In perhaps the most comprehensive analysis yet, scientists say they “did not detect extreme differences” in the nutritional value of organic and conventional wheat. After looking at 52 separate nutritional components — including amino acids, sugars, organic acids (such as vitamin B5) and nucleotides – scientists found no statistically significant differences in 44 of the 52 “metabolites.” (Read on …)