Study: no benefits from organic food

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A new report suggests if you want the most nutritious food for your family, going "organic" doesn't help you.

Many people have wondered if "organic" foods are really superior. An analysis of organic foods by the American Academy of Pediatrics determined, "Current evidence does not support any meaningful nutritional benefits or deficits from eating organic compared with conventionally grown foods."

But maybe nutrition isn't your only concern.

Tamilyn Beck-Koeczre said, "I'm more concerned about preservatives and pesticides and other things that are added to our food that we're not aware of."

Pediatrician Dr. Robert Baker responded, "There's definitely a higher exposure to pesticides in non-organic foods, and that could or could not be a problem."

Dr. Baker is professor of pediatrics and co-director of the division of gastroenterology and nutrition at the University at Buffalo. He points out that no studies have been done yet that show harm from pesticides.

"We know that the exposure is there, but we don't know if the exposure is enough to cause any true damage," he explained.

But we do have one problem with organic foods - they cost more. For example, a conventional cucumber costs $2.50. Compare that to an organically grown cucumber, which is much smaller, that costs $3.

And that might mean that if you choose to eat only organic foods, you might buy less fresh produce.

"If that's the case, that's not a good choice. If it comes down to choosing between eating and not eating, I think that the non-organic food is fine," Dr. Baker said.