Organic food has 'no extra health benefits' says FSA

Eating organic food offers no extra health benefits, according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

An independent review commissioned by the (FSA) has found no important differences in the nutritional content of food produced to organic standards, or any additional health benefits, when compared with conventionally produced food.

Many consumers believe organic food has better flavour. The growth in sales of organic food was also driven by food scares such as salomnella in eggs and chicken, BSE in beef and outbreaks of foot and mouth, which raised consumer fears over the safety of the food chain.

However, The Publican Food Report ​2008 found that pubs are far more likely to use terms such as 'fresh', 'seaonal' and 'local' on menus and specials board than to promote food as organic.

Gill Fine, FSA director of consumer choice and dietary health, said: "Ensuring people have accurate information is absolutely essential in allowing us all to make informed choices about the food we eat.

"This study does not mean that people should not eat organic food. What it shows is that there is little, if any, nutritional difference between organic and conventionally produced food and that there is no evidence of additional health benefits from eating organic food."

She added: "We recognise that there are many reasons why people choose to eat organic, such as animal welfare or environmental concerns."

The study was carried out by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).