Organic - Myths & Facts

myth Organic foods are no healthier than non-organic foods.

reality Wrong: food produced organically contains fewer contaminants. Some scientific studies have shown that there are more nutrients in organically produced food.

myth Organic farming increases the risk of food poisoning.

reality False: organic farming can actually reduce the risk.

myth Organic farming uses pesticides that damage the environment.

reality Untrue: Organic farming systems rely upon prevention rather than cure, minimising the

need for pesticides.

myth Consumers are paying too much for organic food.

reality Not so: crop rotations, organic animal feed and welfare standards, the use of good

husbandry instead of agri-chemicals, and the preservation of natural habitats all result in

organic food costing more to produce. Non-organic food appears to be cheaper but in fact

consumers pay for it three times over – first over the counter, second via taxation (to fund

agricultural subsidies) and third to remedy the environmental pollution (or disasters like

BSE) caused by intensive farming practices.

myth Organic food cannot feed a hungry world.

reality False: intensive farming destroys the fertility of the land and is unsustainable. Organic

methods help labour-rich but cash-poor communities to produce food sustainably.

myth Organic farming is unkind to animals.

reality Far from it: animal welfare and the freedom to behave naturally is central to organic

livestock standards.

Referred from: http://www.sustainweb.org/pdf/myth_real.pdf