Myth 1: Organic foods are the safest and healthiest choice for you.

What Dietitians of Canada says:

“Organic foods may have more, about the same, or less nutrients than non-organic foods. And both organic and non-organic foods are grown and produced under strict regulations to make sure they are safe for you to eat.”

What I say:

It’s been documented that many organic foods are contaminated by pesticides, either during the growing process through contaminated air, rain, and soil, or post-harvest during storage. I think that in that regard, many of the foods we currently produce are not particularly safe to eat as pesticides accumulate in our bodies over time. However, I agree that the nutrient value of foods within each category (i.e. organic and non-organic) is likely to vary more than the nutrient value between the two groups. From a nutrition standpoint there is little benefit to consuming organic foods. However, from a flavour standpoint, and from an environmental standpoint, there are benefits to choosing organic foods.