Is organic food healthier?

With the market for organic food growing, health-conscious patients may turn to their GPs for advice on whether they should be buying organic. Here’s what primary care practitioners should know.

Learn more about this topic in the HealthCert Professional Diploma program in Medical Nutrition Management – online nutrition training for GPs.

Organic vs. conventional food

In Australia, the National Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce provides a framework for the organic industry, outlining the allowed production, processing, and marketing of organic foods (1).

Organic foods are produced without the use of human-made pesticides, genetic modification, synthetic fertilizers, or other synthetic additives. Conventionally grown foods, on the other hand, typically involves the use of synthetic chemical fertilisers and pesticides to help maximise crop yield.

Nutritional value

Research has found organic produce to have slightly higher amounts of vitamin C, lower nitrate levels, and higher levels of some minerals (such as magnesium and phosphorus) and bioactive compound compared to conventionally grown plants (2, 3, 4). However, these differences are minimal and there is not strong evidence to indicate that organic foods are significantly more nutritious than conventional foods (2,3).

Research has also looked at whether consuming organic food has an impact on human health. A 2020 systematic review found that increased organic intake was associated with a reduced incidence of fertility, allergic sensitisation, metabolic syndrome and high BMI among other benefits (5). However, the authors also noted that people who choose organic food are more likely to follow a healthy lifestyle, including being physically active and following a plant-based dietary pattern, which makes it difficult to assess the impact of organic foods. Most other reviews have found no significant health differences when accounting for confounding factors (6,7).

Additionally, the research is clear that having any produce (organic or not) is beneficial for health, and the vast majority of Australians are not having enough fruit and/or vegetables (8)!

Pesticide use

Organic foods have been found to have lower amounts of pesticide residue than conventionally grown foods (9). However, this has not been shown to offer any health benefit. The trace amounts found on conventionally produced food is still well below the maximum residue limits set by Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ).

Environment considerations

Another consideration for many when it comes to choosing organic foods is the environmental impact. Organic farming helps preserve natural resources and promotes a more sustainable use of them, while fertilisers and pesticides used in conventional farming methods can contribute to environmental pollution.

If patients can afford it, there may be several reasons to choose organic foods. However, GPs can reassure their patients that focusing on including a wide variety of fruits and vegetables in general is more likely to provide health benefits, especially given that only 5% of Australians consume the recommended amount.

Learn more with the online HealthCert Professional Diploma program in Medical Nutrition Management.

– Sarah Marko, Accredited Practising Dietitian

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