Here is an article that appeared in this months American Heart Association's news letter concerning the "benefits" of organic food vs non-organic food.

--------------------------------------

Organic food costs more and is generally harder to find than conventionally grown food — but that hasn’t slowed its growing popularity among consumers. Many shoppers assume organic products are more nutritious and safer to eat, but these perceptions are based more on hype than hard science.

“Some supporters of organic food production promote it as being ‘better’ without any supporting science,” said Penny Kris-Etherton, Ph.D., a registered dietitian and Distinguished Professor of Nutrition at the Pennsylvania State University’s College of Health and Human Development. “In terms of both nutrition and safety, organic food is no different than foods produced by other contemporary food production practices.”

In a 2010 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers reviewed 12 major studies on organic food from the past 50 years and found “evidence lacking for nutrition-related health effects that result from the consumption of organically produced foodstuffs.”

Some consumers buy organic produce to reduce their exposure to residue from pesticides. However, studies comparing pesticide- with non-pesticide-grown foods have found that neither is significantly safer than the other. According to the Environmental Working Group (an organization of scientists, researchers and policymakers), certain types of produce have higher pesticide levels than others. To guide consumers, the group has created a “dirty dozen” list of fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide levels and a “clean 15” list of those lowest in pesticides. AHA encourages consumers to eat a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, regardless of if they are organic or non-organic since either kind provides important nutrients and fiber for healthy diets.

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/WeightManagement/LosingWeight/Organic-Food-Fact-vs-Perception_UCM_425671_Article.jsp

Millet (547-)

I just well rinse the food and call it day.

They may find no significant advantage to eating organic produce,but can any study find any health advantage to eating foods produced with pesticides ? There may be arguements for pesticides being needed to actually produce crops etc, but there is no health advantage to the individual when they eat produce raised with pesticides.

People go ahead and spend the extra money to purchase organic produce, because of the pesticide issue. But According to the findings of the American Heart Association, on the issue of pesticides, or no pesticides as in the case of organic foods, as written in the above article, it was found that neither was significantly safer than the other. THE American Heart Association is one of America's most respected and credible association. - Millet (546-)

Irony= My grandmother washed ever bit of fresh fruit and vegie ever to enter her house and she has non Hodgkin’s lymphoma from pesticides that were used on the farm she worked when grandpa was to sick to work. She also lost her second oldest son to same. But that was back before they made those chemicals illegal to use.. and now most farmers do not get as close as they use to to what they use (chemicals) and what they harvest with so much tech taking place of hands on work.
I think it is ridiculous what ya have to do ($$$$) to pass a product ( like AZ41) and yet if you have a big brand name you can get almost any thing passed with $$.. to later have the product pulled...
It can drive ya crazy with one day is good for you next day is bad and day after that it's not as bad as they thought.. I don't buy organic cause I can't afford the extra cost. If I could afford the difference I'd rather just grow it myself on my own farm.. but instead I grow stuff on community garden that goes to needy and buy local farmers market when I can for my own use.. Support local growers when ya can!! I think the fresher it is the more nutrients are still in the product.. Grow your own when ya can!!
Just my $.02.
Gina *BabyBlue*

The environmental working groups says the benefits of eating 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day outweighs the risks of consuming the pesticides, but they also suggest that eating organic reduces your exposure to pesticides which many studies show are harmful in the human body. Organics are also often fresher and more local. Pretty much the only downside i can see to eating organics is the cost.

here's a link:
http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/

I find the FAQ pretty informative:
http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/faq/

It's nice because they site their references.

And I also find this little tidbit interesting:
http://www.ewg.org/report/best-friends-forever-produce-growers-and-pesticide-makers-deepen-their-bond

Bottom line: Pesticides are bad for you but veggies are good for you. Eat as many as you can but do your best to reduce your pesticide exposure. It's pretty much common sense.

I think the AHA is trying to encourage people to eat their veggies for their heart health, and they don't want people to be discouraged from doing so because of what they hear about pesticides and the high price of organics.

There's no need, however, to disparage organics.

avinyard, thank you for the link showing the dirty 15 and the clean 10. Actually it was amazing that you did so, because I had just came on line to post the dirty 15, and clean 10. I noticed that in my original post that information did not show up as a down load (it was supposed to). Anyway, when I signed on, I seen your post. I would add that the two good links you listed for us are both organic food sites, so they certainly "have a dog in the fight" so to speak, whereas the American Heart Assn. is a completely neutral organization in the organic/non organic debate. They don't care where the chips fall, they just wanted to find the real facts, separate them from all the hype, then lay the actual facts on the table and let people make their own decisions. I do agree with you that there is no reason not to eat organic foods. They are indeed healthy foods., but why pay more money for little to no benefit? - Millet (544-)