Is organic food better for our health?

There has been a huge increase in the market for organic foods in the UK over recent years, and there seems to be a growing interest in organic food and farming from both the public and the media. Over the past 10 years, sales of organic food in the UK have increased ten-fold from just over £100 million in 1993/94 to £1.12 billion in 2003/04 (DEFRA 2004). Retail sales of organic food products in the UK were worth approximately £1.6 billion in 2005, which was an increase of 30% from the previous year (Soil Association 2006). As well as the more traditional organic fruit and vegetables, there has recently been a significant increase in sales of organic milk, poultry, meat and processed foods. However, as a percentage of the total food market, organic food still remains a relatively small sector, at around 1–2% of total food sales (DEFRA 2003). There are a number of different reasons why consumers may choose to buy organic food, including concerns about the environment and the use of pesticides, concerns about intensified farming methods, or the perception that organic food is safer or more nutritious than conventionally produced food. Furthermore, as some sectors of the population have become more interested in health and wellbeing, there has been an increased demand for more ‘natural’, less processed foods. This may also have contributed to the increased demand, as many people perceive organic foods as a more ‘natural’ alternative. Even though organic foods tend to be much higher in price (mainly owing to the lower productivity of organic crops), they seem to have become increasingly popular.