Pesticides in your peaches: Tribune and USDA studies find pesticides, some in excess of EPA rules, in the fragrant fruit

As we munch into the fragrant core of peach season, shoppers face an array of choices for the same fuzzy fruit but little guidance on which type to pick. Expensive organic? Pricey farmers market? Cheap peaches from the grocery store?

Cost is certainly important. But there are essential numbers that go beyond the price tag of a peach, or any other item from the produce aisle.

Which contain the highest levels of pesticides?

Challenges to study finding organics no better than conventional produce

The recent British study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, concluding that organic produce has no nutritional benefits over conventional, misses the main point that organic fruits and vegetables are free of herbicides, pesticides and fungicides. But the study has many other limitations.

The Organic Center, whose mission is to generate peer reviewed scientific research on the benefits of organic farming, has challenged the findings of the British study on several points

Organics industry hits back at dietary findings

The organics industry is hitting back and rejecting claims made in a report by Britain’s Food Standard Agency (FSA) that found organic produce has no health or nutritional benefit over conventionally produced food. The groups are labeling the report's results incomplete.

With regard to the findings of the FSA report, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) said the study totally avoided the issue of pesticides and took a very narrow view of 'health'.

Organic debate gets dirty

A BRITISH agency which produced a report claiming there was no real health benefit to eating organic food has been accused of being biased against the organic sector.

The organic movement is furious the report claimed organic food offered limited nutritional advantages to conventional food, but failed to take in to account the effect chemical residues had on consumers of conventional food, or other reasons consumers chose organic, such as taste, animal welfare and sustainability issues.

Organic 'has no health benefits'

Organic food is no healthier than ordinary food, a large independent review has concluded.

There is little difference in nutritional value and no evidence of any extra health benefits from eating organic produce, UK researchers found.

The Food Standards Agency, which commissioned the report, said the findings would help people make an "informed choice".

But the Soil Association criticised the study and called for better research.

Organic claims beefed up

BUTCHERS often mince their words when it comes to answering questions about organic meat, an investigation by the nation’s leading consumer group has found.

A Choice survey of 29 butchers in Melbourne and Sydney found only 11 were able to answer a question about which body certifies their organic beef. Seven butchers did not know or couldn’t reply directly, but referred customers to brochures or posters with the information.