The claimEvidence A · guideline-tier
Organic food is more nutritious and safer
The evidence
Smith-Spangler 2012 (Stanford, 237 studies): nutrient content is near-identical to conventional. 'Organic' certifies production method, not nutrition or safety.
The mechanism, in brief
On the nutritional differences between organic and conventional food, two highly influential systematic reviews drew somewhat different conclusions, and are worth understanding separately.
Sources (2)
- Smith-Spangler, C., Brandeau, M. L., Hunter, G. E., et al. (2012). Are organic foods safer or healthier than conventional alternatives? A systematic review. Annals of Internal Medicine, 157(5), 348-366. Found no strong evidence that organic foods are more nutritious; organic produce had lower pesticide-residue detection.
- Baranski, M., Srednicka-Tober, D., Volakakis, N., et al. (2014). Higher antioxidant and lower cadmium concentrations and lower incidence of pesticide residues in organically grown crops: a systematic literature review and meta-analyses. British Journal of Nutrition, 112(5), 794-811.