Depending on what country we’re talking about, different locations will have different rates of organic food sales year by year. However, generally speaking, organic products are a fast growing industry sector which has grown year on year for the last 11 years, and is now worth £3.1 billion in the UK.

In terms of why consumers tend to opt for organic produce, the reasons vary widely. For example, some like them because they believe that they support the local economy and animal welfare. On the other hand, some will like them because they support food safety, their personal health, and have a better overall taste.

Now that we’ve talked about how much organic food people tend to purchase and why they purchase them, let’s delve into the health and nutritional benefits of organic food compared to other foods.

Are organic foods healthier than normal foods?

There isn’t enough evidence to support that organic foods are healthier than normal foods. Although it is widely believed that organic foods are a healthier and safer option, there is not enough conclusive evidence to fully support this.

Normal foods have a higher exposure to pesticides, but a food being organic doesn’t mean it’s free from pesticides. Many people will opt for organic because they believe them to be free from pesticides. However, it’s worth noting that organic foods can still be contaminated with pesticides.

Some studies which compare the nutritional content of organic to conventional foods have some concerns. For example, systematic reviews comparing nutrient content between organic and conventional crops have found conventional foods to be higher in levels of nitrogen than organic ones, while organic foods were found to be higher in titratable acidity, omega 3 fatty acid and phosphorus. In large amounts, nitrogen is considered to be bad for human health. As for titratable acidity, it is difficult for saliva to neutralise, and can therefore be potentially damaging to teeth. Finally, high phosphorus levels can cause damage to overall human health.

That being said, there were no other nutritional differences found between the two. Although there may be some difference between levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, omega 3 fatty acid, and titratable acidity, there were no other differences found in terms of levels of magnesium, calcium, copper, potassium, zinc, phenolic compounds, etc.

It has been suspected that many of the differences found between organic foods and conventional foods aren’t connected to organic techniques used in production. Instead, experts believe they are caused by differences in fertilisers and ripeness at harvest.

The concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids was found to be lower in organic meat, in comparison to conventional meat. This is positive, since monounsaturated fatty acids can lead to weight gain.

Larger differences were found between organic versus conventional milk. For example, there was a larger increase in total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and omega-3 PUFAs in organic milk, in comparison to those in conventional milk. This is good as polyunsaturated fats can help to lower cholesterol levels, while omega-3 PUFAs have been shown to reduce heart disease.

Implication for Toddlers:

Whilst organic food is perhaps more environmentally friendly, kinder to animals and may be higher in some nutrients it is important to consider what your toddler needs. Organic foods cannot be fortified with additional vitamins and minerals such as calcium or iron which may be needed in some cases to help your toddler get a balanced diet.

Are organic foods healthier for toddlers?

On Unii’s Toddler Nutrition Journey, we compare organic and inorganic foods.