In the category of facts that "everyone knows" is the assumption that organic foods (mostly produce) are better for people's health than the same items produced by conventional means. According to a recent article from CNN, a number of schools are now providing children with salad bars consisting of organic foods and are patting themselves on the back about giving the kids more healthful foods.
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We certainly applaud making salad bars available for school lunches. It's true that a number of epidemiological studies indicate that people whose diets contain ample fruits and vegetables have lower risks for chronic diseases than people whose diets do not. And increasing kids' intake of plant foods will increase their fiber intake, which is too low in the average American's diet.
The article focused on the fact that the food supplied is organic, but that aspect isn't really that important. None of the studies that showed health benefits for people who ate more plant-derived foods dealt with organic produce. Insisting on organic foods for these salad bars will add no health benefit but will certainly increase the cost to school systems -- and that doesn't deserve a pat on the back!
Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D., is Director of Nutrition at the American Council on Science and Health.
In related news, see ConsumerFreedom's look at what scientists say about organic food, and see Spiked-Online's look at why the film Super Size Me is really misguided McMoralizing.
