Much of the information surrounding organics is conflicting and it involves wading through a lot of information. Studies have revealed fewer chemical and pesticide residues exist in organics although the actual nutrition is not found to be any greater than non-organic.

Prices for organic foods can be 50-100 percent higher in cost. Consumers rely on government regulatory agencies to point out what it safe for consumption. A Globe and Mail Health article by Susan Smith gives us an in depth look.

Rick Smith, executive director of Toronto-based Environmental Defence Canada notes,
"So-called organochlorine pesticides used in crop production are recognized carcinogens as well as being bioaccumulative, which means they build up in body tissue. The not-enough-proof argument 'makes me crazy', "
he says pointing to the example of DDT and other chemicals once thought safe and then found out to be anything but, after a generation of children was raised ingesting them.


"DDT is still found in human tissue after having finally been banned in Canada in 1990, almost 30 years after flags were raised."
Some recommend a wait and see approach, while others have chosen not to wait for further studies. Reports have shown pesticides have been detected in about 22 percent of fruits and vegetables. Concern for the cumulative effect and the interaction of various chemicals has been raised. Organic growers such as Laura Telford, executive director of Canadian Organic Growers in Ottawa, suggests a "better safe than sorry" approach.
"Children are eating too much unhealthy food, but organics aren't necessarily the cure,"
says Daina Kalnins, an academic and clinical specialist and registered dietitian at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
"Generally speaking, I would say that organic foods are not necessarily nutritionally better than non-organic food. The important thing for children is making sure that they get balanced nutrition first. Children need to drink more water and milk, to eat more fruits and vegetables, and to eat more fiber and less processed food. Taking the leap to organic is a matter of personal choice and should be kept in perspective. Most importantly, it should not be done at the expense of a healthy, balanced diet. An organic biscuit does not outdo a non-organic orange or tomato."
Despite the lack of hard evidence of health benefit, many reasons exist to buy organic. Avoiding not only the pesticides, but also the antibiotics, whose consumption contributes to bacteria resistance. We can all do without synthetic hormones, which in small amounts can have an substantial impact on on our health. Long term effects of these additives are yet to be determined. Alan Greene, a pediatrician at Stanford University and a spokesman for Wisconsin-based Organic Valley Family Farms, says choosing organic is the right thing to do.
"Unlike factory cows, organic cows must have access to open air. This kind of farming is kind to animals, supportive of wildlife, healthy for rural communities, respectful of our air, water and soil, and healthy for children."