The French Agency for Food Safety (AFSSA) has found that organic food is superior nutritionally, in research published in the Journal Agronomy for Sustainable Development.
This contrasts with the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) report, lead authored by Alan Dangor of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
The UK FSA report concluded that there was no significant nutritional differences between organic and conventional foods.
However the French study, authored by Denis Lairon, found key differences between organic and conventional foods.
According to the French study, organic plant products contain more dry matter and minerals, specifically Iron and Magnesium, and contain more anti-oxidant micronutrients such as phenols and salicylic acid. Organic animal products contain more polyunsaturated fatty acids.
The report also found that organic vegetables contain far less nitrates. 80% of human exposure to nitrates comes from vegetables. Nitrates, which convert to nitrites, are linked to gastric cancer, circulatory problems and respiratory conditions such as asthma.
Significantly, the French research also examined pesticide residues, whereas the UK FSA research did not consider this area. Lairon found that 94-100% of organic food has no pesticide residues.
The UK FSA research only considered research with an abstract (i.e. academic summary) written in English. This makes the French research all the more significant, as it is based on a comprehensive 2003 report written in French, as well as more recent findings.
The French study is here
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