That Organic Label You're Paying Extra For? It's Probably A Lie
It's widely believed-and preached by environmental groups, activists, and healthy-eating advocates alike-that if you're looking to avoid unhealthy pesticides in your food, you should buy local, organic produce whenever possible. And thus pay a premium for safer, healthier food. However, these long-held notions may not be entirely true.
According to an annual summary of pesticide data, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) revealed that a whopping 21 percent of organic samples tested contained pesticide residue. And those discovered pesticides were not the organic-approved concoctions like sulfur, copper compounds, and mineral oils; instead, the residues included 40 different types of synthetic chemical pesticides-all at levels comparable to those found on conventionally grown produce. In 26 cases, the levels were lower; but in 30 cases, they were on par or higher.
It's worth noting that the USDA also reported that the overall pesticide levels were minimal and that they "do not pose a safety concern for U.S. food." Still, this certainly does not fit the definition of organic food that it's continually applauded for.
In the survey, more than 10,000 samples of 15 different crops-such as apples, bananas, carrots, green beans, peaches, strawberries, watermelon, and tomatoes-were tested. Of the 409 that were labeled organic, 87 contained residues.
What's more, this isn't a terribly new concept. Forbes reports that back in 2012, a larger USDA survey found that at least 40 percent of samples contained unapproved pesticide residues. But the cause is typically chalked up to inadvertent spray drifts and/or cross-contamination via harvesting bins with conventionally grown fields. But, as recently as September, we also reported on studies confirming that organic produce is overpriced-and simply synonymous with luxury-as it's almost never entirely fertilizer- or pesticide-free.
As Forbes also points out, the general takeaway here is that consumers can enjoy a safe and healthy diet without doling out extra cash for an organic label. Meanwhile, and totally perplexingly, organic meat and milk have been proven to be healthier for us. Color us confused.
Follow Delish on Instagram.
