The best grocery delivery services will be extremely helpful during the coronavirus aka COVID-19 pandemic. Healthy people can continue to move about in public and shop in grocery stores, but if youre practicing social distancing (one of the most essential coronavirus tips to staying healthy), you may want to shop for groceries online. And sick people who are quarantined at home will get the food they need without endangering others.

If you dont want to rely entirely on food delivery apps and cook at home, youll need the sites on our best grocery delivery services list. They offer fresh produce, meat, seafood, eggs, cheese, prepared foods and meal kits. Others only sell nonperishable, shelf-stable pantry items like pasta, cereal, canned goods and snacks.

As far as delivery fees and times, they run the gamut. Some offer free delivery with add-on memberships, and most require a minimum order. You can get groceries delivered within an hour in some places or schedule them for the next day or later in the week.

And in light of the coronavirus situation, most of these services are instituting contact-less delivery, so the order will be dropped off outside the door. However, many are also experiencing major delays and have very few delivery slots available.

Here are the best grocery delivery services right now.

Online shopping has become ubiquitous in recent years. Now, people buy everything online: clothes, electronics, furniture, toilet paper and even groceries. The best grocery delivery services offer everything that you can get at the store, but with the convenience of being dropped off at your home. At the top of our list of the best grocery delivery services are Amazon Fresh and Instacart, both of which are widely available across the United States. They operate differently (Amazon Fresh puts together orders in a warehouse, while Instacart uses personal shoppers who go to local stores near you), but both offer a range of goods, from fresh produce to meat and seafood to non-perishables like pasta to cleaning supplies.

The other options that round out the list of best grocery delivery services have more limitations, whether its availability in many locations or the breadth of products they sell. None are exactly cheap when it comes to delivery fees, but convenience comes at a premium. FreshDirect has top-quality organic produce but at higher prices and in only a handful of states. Peapod and Shipt also have limited coverage areas, though they do feature great deals and coupons. The best grocery delivery services will help budget-conscious shoppers find savings. And even if you just want to stock up the pantry, options like Google Shopping and Prime Pantry allow you to do so at just the click of a button.

For anyone looking to replace their regular, weekly in-store grocery shopping experience, Amazon Fresh may be the best choice if youre already an Amazon Prime member, but Instacart provides targeted access to your favorite store.

Locations: More than 2,000 cities (check availability); no dorms | Membership required: Yes, included with Amazon Prime ($119 per year) | Shipping fee: Free with minimum order of $35 | Delivery times: As fast as 1 hour | What you can buy: Groceries and non-perishables, including Whole Foods

Free 2-hour delivery

Whole Foods products

Requires Amazon Prime membership

Amazon Fresh is essentially a digital grocery store. It used to be an add-on service but now comes free for Amazon Prime members. The store offers fresh produce, meat, dairy, seafood, packaged foods, Whole Foods 365 products and household goods, such as cleaning supplies. You can even shop for electronics, clothing and toys on Amazon Fresh. The interface is the same as the rest of Amazon, so using it is easy and familiar. Just add items to your cart and then check out.

Amazon Fresh offers free two-hour delivery in most cases if you meet an order minimum (which vary by area). For a fee in some areas, you can get your delivery within the hour. You can also schedule a time in advance. Pickup is available in some cities and is free. Plus, Amazon Fresh offers coupons and deals if you are looking to save on groceries.

Try the Amazon Fresh service now.

Locations: 40 states, plus Washington, D.C. (check availability) | Membership required: No | Shipping fee: Starting at $3.99 with minimum order of $10; free with Instacart Express ($99 per year or $9.99 per month) with minimum order of $35 | Delivery times: 2 hours to 6 days | What you can buy: Groceries, non-perishables, alcohol from local stores

Shop at your favorite stores

2-hour delivery

Delivery fees can add up

Instacart uses personal shoppers to pick up items for you from local stores. You can even order from Costco and Sams Club without needing a membership (though you will pay more than members would in the store). Some areas even allow you to order from liquor stores, pet stores and pharmacies. As youre shopping, you can indicate substitutes if any items are unavailable. Or you can have the shopper contact you to ask about replacement products. Youll receive live updates and can track the shoppers progress on GPS.

If you upgrade to Instacart Express, you get free two-hour delivery on orders over $35 and you can also shop from multiple stores at the same time. Otherwise, you have to pay a fee starting at $3.99, which goes up during busier times of the day and varies by how quickly you want your delivery.

Try the Instacart service now.

Locations: 1,600 cities (check availability) | Membership required: No | Shipping fee: $7.95 to $9.95, free with Delivery Unlimited ($98 per year or $12.95 per month) | Delivery times: Same day to one week | What you can buy: Groceries, non-perishables, other Walmart products

Low Walmart prices

Access to many types of products

High delivery fees

Walmart Grocery is a fairly new delivery service introduced by the megastore in most major cities. Previously, the service allowed you to order from Walmart for same-day pickup. Now, you can have that order delivered to you, also same-day. Walmart Grocery has existed on a separate app from the main Walmart app, but the company plans to merge them soon.

So, what can you buy? Everything from groceries (perishable and nonperishable) to home goods to electronics to beauty products to clothing anything Walmart sells at low Walmart prices. You can get fresh fruit and outdoor gear at the same time! Once you order, you can select an open delivery window up to a week in advance. And if you sign up for the Delivery Unlimited package, shipping is free. Otherwise, the delivery fee starts at $7.95.

Try the Walmart Grocery service now.

Locations: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington D.C. (check availability) | Membership required: No | Shipping fee: $5.99-$15.99 with minimum order of $30; free with Delivery Pass ($129 per year, $79 for six months or $39 for six months of midweek deliveries) | Delivery times: Same day to one week | What you can buy: Groceries, non-perishables, alcohol in some areas

High-quality groceries

Prepared meals and meal kits

Limited coverage area

FreshDirect is limited to a handful of Northeast states and offers those areas high-quality produce, meat, seafood, cheese, baked goods and pantry staples. They also make their own brand of meal kits and prepared meals you could buy an entire Thanksgiving meal, as an example. You can also buy farmshare boxes, fresh flowers, household goods, personal care items and alcohol in some areas. Because their goods are top-notch (and often organic), their prices reflect that so you may experience some sticker shock.

If youre in New York City, you can also use their sister grocery delivery service, Food Kick, which offers same-day shipping. And in the summers, FreshDirect expands its coverage zone to the Jersey Shore and Hamptons. Their fees are high, depending on the specific area, as is the monthly and yearly passes. But if you want quality groceries, you have to pay for them.

Try the FreshDirect service now

Locations: New England and mid-Atlantic states (check availability) | Membership required: No | Shipping fee: Varies by order total; free with PodPass ($119 per year, $49 for three months, $69 for six months) with minimum order of $100 | Delivery times: Next day to two weeks | What you can buy: Groceries, non-perishables

Great sign-up deal

Double coupons

Limited coverage area

Peapod is one of the first of the best grocery delivery services, though its not in many regions right now. They recently pulled out of the Midwest and the Washington D.C. area. Peapod offers all the standard groceries like fresh vegetables and fruit, meat, dairy and pantry staples but also their own brand of meal kits. Theres decent savings to be had, too: They double manufacturers coupons up to $0.99. Be sure to sign up for their emails, which also tout special deals.

When you first sign up for Peapod, you can save $20 off your first order and get 60 days of free delivery with the promo code 60DAYSFREE. After that, you can get free delivery with PodPass, but only by ordering over $100. Otherwise, the delivery fee varies by your order total and the day and time you select.

Try the Peapod service now

Locations: Everywhere (check availability) | Membership required: No | Shipping fee: Free with minimum order of $25 or $35, depending on store | Delivery times: Varies, depending on store (some offer same-day) | What you can buy: Non-perishables from stores including Target and Costco

Shop at favorite stores

Free delivery with minimum order

No groceries

Google Shopping, formerly known as Google Express, offers mostly non-perishable items from a variety of stores, including Target. Think Prime Pantry crossed with Instacart (but without the personal shopper). Again, if you order from a membership-exclusive store like Costco, you will pay a premium price that is more than members would pay. Depending on the store, if you meet the order minimum, you get free shipping.

The delivery windows also depend on the store; some offer same-day shipping from Fedex and UPS, but youre more likely to receive your items the next day or in several business days. As to what you can buy, you can shop the standard pantry staples like baking ingredients, pasta, beverages, canned vegetables and fruits, snacks and condiments. In some areas, you can buy non-refrigerated vegetables and fruit and fresh flowers.

Try the Google Shopping service now

Locations: The Southeast, parts of Texas, Chicago (check availability) | Membership required: Yes ($99 per year or $14 per month) | Shipping fee: Free with minimum order of $35 | Delivery times: 1 hour to two weeks | What you can buy: Groceries, non-perishables, alcohol in some areas

Shop at favorite stores

1 hour delivery

Requires membership

Shipt is similar to Instacart but requires you to sign up for a membership, which comes with free shipping on orders over $35 (for smaller orders, the fee is $7). Shipt has a somewhat limited coverage area versus the other best grocery delivery services, but still offers convenience and decent prices. They promote weekly sales, coupons and deals (including buy-one-get-one-free) if youre looking to save on your grocery budget.

Like Instacart, you get a personal shopper who will pick up the items on your list from various local stores, including Kroger, Target and CVS. In some areas, you can even get alcohol. If your personal shopper has questions about substitutes, they will contact you to discuss adjustments to the order. Once you place an order, you can get your items as quickly as within the hour or schedule the delivery in the next two weeks.

Try the Shipt service now

Locations: Nearly 100 cities (check availability) | Membership required: Yes, included with Amazon Prime ($119 per year) | Shipping fee: Free with minimum order of $35 | Delivery times: 1 hour to 2 days | What you can buy: Groceries from Whole Foods and select non-perishables

Whole Foods groceries

1-hour delivery

Requires Amazon Prime membership

Think of Amazon Prime Now as two storefronts, one of which is Whole Foods. That means you can buy the grocery stores fresh produce, meat, cheese, baked goods and prepared foods. The other storefront is Amazon goods, including its own groceries (like the ones available via Amazon Fresh) as well as other items like electronics, clothing and household supplies. The Whole Foods items and Amazon items will go into separate carts when you check out. Then, you can select a time slot as soon as within two hours (some areas have one-hour delivery).

So what is the difference between Prime Now and Amazon Fresh? Well, Fresh sells Whole Foods 365 branded items, but not Whole Foods groceries (meat, produce, cheese, etc.) But yes, the two services are very similar and we wouldnt be surprised if they merge soon.

Try the Prime Now service now

Locations: Most cities except in Alaska and Hawaii (check availability) | Membership required: Yes, included with Amazon Prime ($119 per year) | Shipping fee: Free with minimum order of $35; free with Prime Pantry membership ($4.99 per month) and minimum order of $10; $5.99 for orders under $35 | Delivery times: Within 4 business days | What you can buy: Non-perishables only

Available almost everywhere

Good deals

Slow ground shipping

Prime Pantry, like Amazon Fresh, is free for Amazon Prime members. But unlike Amazon Fresh, Pantry doesnt have groceries. Instead, it offers nonperishable, shelf-stable household goods like pasta, cereal, and snacks as well as cleaning supplies and pet food. Pantry sells these goods in bulk and in smaller portions, like a single box of cereal or personal-sized snacks. Its one of the best grocery delivery services if youre looking to stock up on household goods as preparation for a natural disaster or the recent coronavirus pandemic.

A Prime Pantry membership costs $4.99 a month and offers free delivery with a minimum order of $10. If youre a non-member, you have to order $35 worth to get free delivery. Orders under $35 will cost you $5.99 in shipping. All deliveries take up to four business days, though, so this is one of the slower grocery delivery services on our list.

Try the Prime Pantry service now

The first thing to do when deciding which is the best grocery delivery service for you is determining which are available in your city or area.

If you want to find out which of the best grocery delivery services is in your area, heres a handy list to check for availability. Just visit these links, enter your zip code or address information to learn which grocery delivery service will bring groceries right to your door.

Once youve narrowed down the list to the best grocery delivery services in your area, consider what you need to buy. If you need fresh produce and meat, you should go with Amazon Fresh, Walmart Grocery, Instacart, FreshDirect, Peapod, Shipt or Amazon Prime Now. If you only need non-perishables, consider Google Shopping or Prime Pantry.

You may also want to consider the quality of the groceries. If you want organic produce, we recommend FreshDirect or Prime Now (which sells Whole Foods produce). If you want to shop at your favorite store, go with Instacart or Shipt. If you want to buy pre-made meal kits, check out Peapod and FreshDirect. If youre all about a budget, Walmart Grocery may have some of the lowest prices.

The rest is here:

Best grocery delivery services to get you through the coronavirus outbreak - Tom's Guide UK

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While International Womens Day this year has already passed, it doesnt mean that we should stop celebrating the many achievements of women to date. From developing much-needed sustainability solutions to leaving behind a positive social impact, there are women every day working hard to bring about change. Below are 10 brands led by women that are making the world a better place in their own ways.

Founded in 2012 by Kavita Khosa, Purearth is an award-winning ethical skincare and wellness brand offering fair-trade, toxin-free, vegan and cruelty-free beauty products. All its products are handcrafted in small batches with natural wild harvested ingredients, and is driven by a zero-waste ethos with its plastic-free packaging and free-of-charge recycling collection service. For every container returned, the company plants a tree. Committed to leaving behind an additional social impact, Khosa decided to partner up with a number of microcredit and grassroots organisations to help local marginalised women in the Himalayan region to engage with urban markets on fair terms.

Purearth products are available online via their website.

Founded by two Hong Kong mums Anita Patel and Sheetal Avlani, ZeroYet100 is a local vegan-friendly and clean skincare brand. Its entire collection is formulated using only natural ingredients and is 100% free from synthetic nasties that are not only harmful to our own health and wellbeing but the environment too. Unlike conventional personal care and beauty products on the market, Anita and Sheetals products wont pollute waterways and harm wildlife, and come in plastic-free and recyclable metal and glass containers.

Zero Yet 100 products are available online via their website and store location in 702 Car Po Commercial Building, 18-20 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong Kong.

LUNA Naturals was founded in 2015 by Olivia Cotes-James out of a frustration of the lack of non-toxic menstrual products on the Asian market. Based in Hong Kong and Shanghai, her social impact period care brand offers monthly subscription boxes for 100% toxin-free, organic and natural cotton sanitary pads and tampons and a reusable menstrual cup product. Olivias brand is catered to women in Asia, where 90% of women currently use non-biodegradable synthetic feminine care products that not only wreak havoc on our health and wellbeing, but contribute a significant amount of landfill waste. Partnering with Hong Kong charity Free Periods, LUNA also supports low-income women with free sustainable and safe menstrual products as well as breaking menstrual taboos with mainland China-based NGO Bright & Beautiful.

LUNA Naturals products are available online via their website.

Created in 2019 by Denise Tam and Terry Wu, Heavens Please is Hong Kongs ultimate CBD wellness and lifestyle platform offering customers the best CBD products. In addition to curating high-quality CBD oils, tinctures and topical beauty and skincare products from the United States and United Kingdom all of which contain only broad spectrum CBD and CBD isolates rather than full-spectrum CBD (which may have traces of THC, the psychoactive compound of the hemp plant) Denises brand supplies the citys first CBD beer made by OH CBD Beer HK. Plus, committed to being plastic-free, all of Heavens Pleases products are offered in glass jars and containers and cardboard packaging.

Heavens Please products are available online via their website.

Created in 2018 by Clarisse Akonyi who hails from the Democratic Republic of Congo and is a refugee herself with the support of Tegan Smyth, Art Women is a creative collective of works by female asylum seekers in Hong Kong. In addition to offering a collection of handicrafts, fashion and jewellery pieces made by refugee women in the city, the group serves as a counselling and therapy platform for women who are overcoming traumatic events and everyday discrimination. Art Women also provides a safe environment aimed at empowering women with self-esteem, autonomy and personal power.

Art Women products are available online via their website.

MeMeraki is Indias first handcrafted artisanal brand on a mission to revive traditional folk arts with fashion. Founded in 2017 by Yosha Gupta, the MeMeraki works with over 100 artists to create beautiful handbags, totes, laptop cases and clutches using age old handicraft techniques with sustainable eco-friendly fabrics such as vegan cork and ethical leather from certified suppliers. Yoshas brand is also dedicated to leaving behind a positive social impact, and has previously run a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to build an art school for girls in an Indian village.

MeMeraki products are available online via their website.

Headquartered in Hong Kong, Everything Organic is an Asia-Pacific distributor of organic foods and was launched by Susanna Chan in 2016. Working alongside CityFarm, Turkeys largest and most established organic food brand and retailer, Susannas platform brings a whole range of quality organic foods to the Asia region, most of which are plant-based ingredients such as dried nuts and fruit, chocolate, oils, sauces and vinegars.

Everything Organic products are available online via their website.

Eat Fresh was originally launched in 2011 by three Hong Kong mums Naoko, Annamaria and Charlotte who were concerned about food safety and is now run by female health coach duo Mia Man and Martina Bin. Providing home delivery services of locally grown fresh organic fruit and vegetables, Eat Fresh hopes to offer customers healthy, top-quality HKORC certified produce alongside healthy recipes to inspire more people to eat whole plant produce.

Eat Fresh produce is available online via their website.

Lead image courtesy of listed brands and compiled by Green Queen Media.

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Sally Ho is Green Queen's resident writer and reporter. Passionate about about the environment, social issues and health, she is always looking into the latest climate stories in Hong Kong and beyond. A long-time vegan, she also hopes to promote healthy and plant-based lifestyle choices in Asia. Sally has a background in Politics and International Relations from her studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

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#IWD2020: 8 Female-Led Asian Brands That You Should Know, From Fashion To Food - Green Queen Media

The latest report by ReportsCheck.biz on Global Organic Food And Beverages Market 2020-2026 is an elaborative assessment of all industry aspects, growth factors, market drivers, top players, types and applications at the global and regional level. Also, top countries within these regions, competitive landscape, product portfolio, and opportunities are presented. The assessment period considered for deriving market numbers is from 2015-2026. The Organic Food And Beverages Industry has reflected rapid growth in the past few years and will grow at a CAGR of xx.xx% in coming years.

The well-established market players in this industry and their market size and share are:

Organic Valley Amys Kitchen Inc. United Natural Foods Incorporated Cargill, Inc. Private Label Companies Whole Foods Market Inc. Everest WhiteWave Foods General Mills, Inc. The Hain Celestial Group Inc.

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The in-depth analysis of value-chain structure, Porters five forces, market trends, restraints, driver opportunities, and every sub-segment is provided. The current and forecast industry situations, major product types and application analysis are provided below. The development strategies implemented by top players, business plans, mergers and acquisitions, raw materials and pricing analysis is done.

Top Product Types Are:

Biodynamic Farming Organic Farming

Key Application Analysis Is As Follows:

Online channel Supermarket Departmental Store Others

The market size in terms of value & volume, and top region analysis for North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Central & South America, Middle East & Africa is conducted. The import-export volume, upstream raw material suppliers, downstream buyers, and opportunity analysis is conducted. Top countries in these regions are United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Germany, France, UK, Spain, Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Turkey, and rest.

The capacity, volume, production, market status, development plans, SWOT analysis, and other factors are analyzed. The definition, classification, market scope, Organic Food And Beverages overview, concentration, and maturity analysis is presented. The aim of the Global Organic Food And Beverages Report is to provide type, application and region analysis. The significant trends, factors driving or market growth and inhibiting growth are stated. The opportunities for stakeholders, individual growth of every player and their contribution is stated. The new product launch events, as well as market status and prospect, is provided from 2015-2026.

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Chapter 1: Definition, Classification, Scope, Applications, Market Segment By Regions, and Overview of Organic Food And Beverages Industry;

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Chapter 3: Technical Data, Manufacturing Plant Analysis, Production Date, Manufacturing Plants Distribution, R&D Status, and Technological Details Analysis;

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Organic Food And Beverages Market 2020 Report Analysis By Regions, Countries, Types, End-Use Applications, And Top Companies Forecast To 2026 - Posts...

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This week's market activity probably wasn't the shot of confidence you were hoping for if you're retired or planning to retire soon.

And your first instinct is probably to protect your retirement income.

Yet experts caution that the worst way to do that is to take dramatic actions with your investments.

"Clearly, you don't want to sell in a low market," said Steve Parrish, co-director of the New York Life Center for Retirement Income at the American College of Financial Services.

You also want to avoid making big, bold decisions before you fully think them through.

"I want to caution people, don't make rash decisions when there are bad things going on in the market," said Carolyn McClanahan, director of financial planning at Life Planning Partners in Jacksonville, Florida.

Instead, look to other strategies outside your investment portfolio that can help extend how long your assets last in your golden years.

"If you're close to retirement, but haven't, it really makes sense to keep working," Parrish said.

For example, if you were planning to retire in June and just extend that deadline until the end of the year, that's extra income coming in. Plus, it extends how long your portfolio will cover you in non-working years.

"Say you wait until the end of the year when the market recovers," Parrish said. "That's going to have an exponential effect on what your retirement income is."

Plus, if you aren't yet 65 and eligible for Medicare, that prevents you from having to pay for COBRA or private health insurance, he said.

One rule all individuals should strive for: Work as long as you are healthy, McClanahan recommended. That's one thing you can depend on, rather than counting on the markets to take care of you for 20 years to 40 years.

"Your human capital is your safest asset," McClanahan said. "Controlling your ability to work is definitely something that is easier than trying to control the stock market."

One surefire way of shoring up your personal balances is to make more with the money you already have.

"If you need to be panicked, do it in the form of saving money, rather than trying to liquidate your investments," Parrish said.

For starters, take a look at your cell phone plan to see if you can whittle it down, or maybe go out to eat less. Revisit recurring subscriptions like cable television packages and how much you are using them.

"Everybody has a different mindset about what's important to them," McClanahan said.

If, for instance, you've decided eating only organic food is a priority for you, try to see how you can reduce those costs by bargain shopping or learning to grow your own vegetables, McClanahan suggested.

More from Personal Finance: What a payroll tax cut could mean for Social Security, Medicare How Coronavirus could financially cripple many Americans Dos and don'ts to avoid panic in your 401(k)

Taking on debt should always be done with a great amount of caution.

Yet depending on your needs and the terms, it sometimes can make sense.

That's because taking money out of the market will likely have big long-term consequences for your financial health. Meanwhile, interest rates on loans are at record lows.

"Consider a short-term bank loan if you need cash flow, rather than liquidating some of the equity that normally pays some of your retirement income," Parrish said.

The key is to limit that debt to short-term to carry you through the market until the novel coronavirus is under control, he said.

Keep in mind that bank loans, whether offered by a brick-and-mortar or online institution, are preferable over credit card loans, which come with much higher interest rates.

If you own a home and were on the fence about whether or not to borrow against it, that strategy could make sense now, Parrish said.

"Your equities are presumably in the tank, but the equity in your house is probably still OK," Parrish said. "A line of credit certainly makes a lot of sense right now."

Money from that loan, whether through a home equity loan or reverse mortgage, can serve as fixed income you can count on.

Making such a move requires caution, Parrish said, because these transactions often come with a number of fees and take time to process.

"It's not something where you call up the bank tomorrow and get it going," Parrish said.

While reverse mortgages can be helpful for some people, they often have loopholes that people didn't recognize when they signed up for them, McClanahan said. And that can lead to regrets if you don't know what you're getting into.

"Don't make rash decisions; really research those," McClanahan said.

When it doubt, consult a financial advisor who charges hourly fees and can help you sort through your overall income and spending needs and help you come up with a plan, McClanahan suggested.

See the rest here:

At or near retirement? Consider these moves to protect your nest egg - CNBC

The energy used to grow, process, package and transport food accounts for about a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. But not all food is equally carbon-intensive. Researchers can measure the impact of different food choices at each stage of their journey from farm to fork to work out their carbon footprint.

Experts suggest that, to reduce your food-related carbon footprint, the best dietary changes to make include replacing red meat and dairy products with plant-based alternatives, and avoiding products that are flown in, or grown in a commercial greenhouse.

In our research, we found that many people arent aware of this advice. In a national UK sample, most people mentioned one or two dietary changes for reducing the climate impact of their food choices, but they rarely mentioned the strategies that experts suggest are the most effective.

Respondents in our study thought that buying local and organic were the best choices for the climate, with reducing packaging and avoiding processed food coming close behind. Although these strategies can have benefits for the environment and animal welfare, they are far from the most effective strategies for mitigating climate change.

Even the respondents who were most engaged with environmental issues were often ill informed rarely mentioning the most effective strategies and frequently suggesting relatively ineffective ones. This suggests that advice about how people can make more sustainable food choices isnt even reaching the ones who might want to do the most.

So why are people in the dark about the right dietary choices for the climate?

For one, corporate sustainability campaigns tend to shift responsibility onto consumers by focusing on reusing and recycling packaging. This has the obvious appeal of presenting no risk to a companys bottom line. Although reducing the amount of plastic packaging that ends up in landfill is important, its unlikely to make much difference to climate change.

It also doesnt help that there is so much information to process, and so many complex choices to make. What should we do when the organic vegetables are wrapped in plastic and non-organic ones arent? Or when the milk-based yoghurt pot is decorated with a landscape of happy cows wandering free in lush fields, while the plainly packaged soy yoghurt conjures images of the Amazon burning to ashes? What about when the fresh bananas arrive from Ecuador but the local Scottish strawberries are kept in the freezer? Whether its plastic packaging versus organic produce, animal welfare versus deforestation, or travel miles versus energy consumption, there is a lot to consider.

Another cause for confusion might be the nature of advice given by climate experts. Often, the climate impact of food choices is presented in terms of grams of greenhouse gas emissions.

We found that people were confused when they were asked how many grams of greenhouse gas emissions could be saved by growing 1 kg of produce organically instead of conventionally?, or packing 1 kg of produce into a paper bag instead of plastic? They were less confused and could answer more accurately when asked the same questions about the percentage of the greenhouse gas emissions that could be saved.

Read more: Four ways to reduce the carbon in your food basket

For most of us, decisions about what to eat involve many factors, including how healthy or tasty food is likely to be. We simply dont have the time, the motivation, or the ability to always figure out exactly which food option has the lowest carbon footprint.

Making choices becomes a lot easier when we have heuristics, or simple rules of thumb. One example is the five-a-day rule, which encourages people to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables each day. Its much easier to follow than weighing and adding up your daily intake of different fruits and vegetables to see if youve consumed the necessary amount in grams.

Popularising simple rules of thumb like replace red meat and dairy with plant-based products helps people skip the stupefying step of computing the complex carbon footprint of every single meal they eat. They allow people to make fast and effective decisions about what to eat.

Heuristics are remarkably effective compared to more complex strategies for making decisions. According to research in psychology, this is probably due to them being easier to remember, implement in different situations, and stick to over time.

If you want to reduce the climate impact of our food choices, try to replace red meat and dairy with plant-based products more often, and avoid products that are flown in or grown in a greenhouse. These choices would be good for the climate, with the added bonus of being good for your health.

Click here to subscribe to our climate action newsletter. Climate change is inevitable. Our response to it isnt.

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Even concerned consumers don't know which food choices have the lowest climate impact - The Conversation UK

What are the standards for organic foods?

Have you ever wondered why certain foods are classified as "organic"? According to surveys, over half of Americans have purchased organic food products in recent years. Since Oct. 21, 2002, any food that is sold in the U.S. -- whether produced locally or imported -- must meet specific standards defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to carry the label "organic."

Organic foods are grown and processed differently than regular foods. The USDA definition of organic food states that:

Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.

While you may see labels that assert that a food is "natural," "pesticide-free," or "hormone-free," these terms should not be considered synonymous with the term "organic." The USDA defines organic foods as products that are at least 95% organic according to the standard usage of the term. If manufacturers wish, they may use the USDA organic seal when marketing their products. Products that contain 100% organic ingredients may be labeled as "100% organic." Use of the USDA seal is not mandatory, however, so you may not see the seal on all organic products.

In the U.S., the most commonly purchased organic foods are fruits and vegetables, which account for over 70% of organic food purchases. Because of the standards required to produce organic foods, these foods are generally more expensive than their non-organic counterparts.

While the USDA strictly regulates the use of the term organic in reference to food products, the agency itself does not make any claims that organic foods are healthier or safer than foods that do not carry this label.

For related information, please visit the Nutrition Center.

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What Is Organic Food? Natural vs. Organic Food

"Organic" technically refers to any material that is carbon-based. That said, organically raised food follows a set of prescribed practices that differ in a number of ways from industrialized agriculture.

Only farms that go through the certification process of their country or state can label their food organic. The process is expensive. There aresmall farms that follow sustainable agriculture practices choose to forgo certification even though their own practices meet or exceed those required.

Organic standards vary from country to country, but food labeled organic in the United States must be raised following some specific guidelines, including:

In the United States, for producers to label processed food "organic," it must contain 95% organically grown ingredients; they can use the label "contains organic ingredients" as long as 70% of the ingredients are certified organic.

Note that some states (I'm looking at you, Oregon!) and many countries have stricter standards than these for their certified organic labeling, specifically, many standards require land to be free of exposure to synthetic chemicals and other banned substances for five years instead of three.

Food raised following organic standards and bearing the organic label does, more often than not, still cost more than food raised using industrial methods. So why pay more?

Many people will answer for their health, to avoid putting chemicals (in the form of pesticide residue) in their bodies. And that's not a bad reason at all.

Most organics advocates, however, will point to larger issues. Healthier farmland, a less toxic environment in general, farmers' and farm workers' health, and a more vibrant and varied food system are all reasons to consider looking for foods that are certified organic.

* This three-year lag time between when a farm must start following the more expensive practices and when it can reap the benefit of labeling the resulting food "organic" is one of the stumbling blocks to some farm converting fully to organic practices.

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Organic Food Definition and Standards

Myths and Misconceptions

For some consumers, the mere act of shopping at the supermarket can be full of overwhelming decisions. After extended debate in the grocery aisle, after attempts to parse through the misleading packaging, you might end up choosing the organic tomatoes over the conventional ones. Theyre twice the price, so theyve got to be better, right?

But its not so simple. Celebrities, anti-GMO groups, and food trends have spread misleading information and myths about the food we chose to eat every day. Do foods labeled organic actually make us healthier? Are they free of pesticides? Should we be afraid of pesticides in the first place?

Recently, singer/actressZooey Deschanel made headlines because her docu-series about organic food, called Your Foods Roots,was riddled with errors and misinformation. In a recent Facebook video, Deschanelmisleadingly claimed that people should eliminate the 12 vegetables and fruits most likely to have the highest amounts of pesticide residues in order to keep healthy. The list, dubbed the dirty dozen, is reportedly curated annually by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit focused on health advocacy and research.

That claim isnt in line with the consensus of the scientific community, however. Toxicologists have long discredited any ill effects of eating foods that happen to be on that list79 percent of the members of the Society of Toxicology said that the EWGoverstated the health risks of chemicals,according to a 2009 survey by George Mason University. In 2016, theAlliance for Food and Farming, a non-profit that represents organic and conventional farmers, repeated calls for the EWG to consider the USDA guidelinesbefore renewing its dirty dozen list, arguing that the produce on it has repeatedly been shown to have no negative health impacts.

Even more concerning, Deschanel urges consumers to strictly buy organic foods to avoid pesticides. Thats bad advice backed by faulty reasoning. Many studies have shownthat just because a food is labeled organic, that doesnt mean it was grown without pesticides (more on that later). In any case, scientists notethat limiting the consumption of fruits and vegetables for fear of pesticide use could be much worse for consumers health than inadvertently consuming a little bit of pesticide.

My biggest concern is that a lot of these reports may [produce] a negative effect in that they may discourage people from consuming what are perfectly healthy, conventionally-produced [non-organic] fruits and vegetables, Carl Winter,food toxicologist at the University of California, Davis and member of the Institute of Food Technologists, told Futurism. While everybody wants to do what they hear is the right thing, they could be doing themselves more harm than good in the long term.

Here are four common, pervasive myths about GMOs and organic foods. Understanding what the science says can help consumers ensure that they choose the food that will best keep them healthy.

At the grocery store, consumers are given the option to buy conventionally-produced food or its (often pricier) organic counterpart. The distinction between these two choices is closely regulated. For food manufacturers to label their items as organic, the products must meet the standards set by organizations and governments.The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) certifies foods as organic if they are shown to be protecting natural resources, conserving biodiversity, and using only approved substances. In the U.S. and Canada, any food labeled as organic must be devoid of GMOs.

Organic foods, by that definition, cant have had synthetic fertilizers or pesticides applied to them for three years before they are harvested. But just because a crop fits the definition of organic doesnt mean its totally free of fertilizer residue. USDA organic certification allows for natural substances such as pheromones, vaccines for animals, and a limited number of natural pesticides as well, but a 2011 survey by the USDA showed 39 percent of 571 organic samples were found to have pesticide residues, but well below tolerance set out by the EPA.And yet, a 2005 market trends survey by Whole Foods found that more than 70 percent of consumers bought organic food to avoid pesticides.

Exposure to a little pesticide isnt necessarily toxic for people.The big question from a toxicological standpoint is how much are we exposed to? The first principle of toxicology is the dose makes the poison, Winter said. While studies have shown that conventional, non-organic foods do indeed come with a greater likelihood of exposure to pesticide residues compared to their organic counterparts, the health risks of exposure are often exaggerated by organizations such as the Environmental Working Group and food safety associations. The levels we are exposed to are far, far less than levels that would be expected to cause any harm to our population. So reducing our exposure a little bit morein this case by purchasing organic foodreally isnt going to cause any appreciable health benefit to us as consumers, Winter added.

That is not to say pesticides pose no risk at all. Since the 1930s, synthetic pesticides, most famously DDT, were linked tobirth defects and depleted biodiversity. People working in the fields, who spend the most time exposed to pesticides, are often hospitalized for related illnesses;in 2006 in the state of California, as many as 1,310 people were hospitalized due to pesticide-related illnesses and injuries, and 23 of them died.Today, scientists are still working to understand how high doses of pesticides can affect childrens development.

Little of this applies to the average consumer, however. First, farmers use fewer pesticides today than they did even a decade ago, and the pesticides themselves must be proven to have a low impact on human health to meet the USDAsstringent guidelines.Althoughhigh doses of these pesticides may pose a health risk, the remaining residues that make their way into our food have been repeatedly shownto have virtually no effect on health. The World Health Organization notes that none of the pesticides currently authorized in international food trade are damaging to humans on a genetic level, and only become dangerous to workers who are directly exposed to them in much higher quantities in the field.

From a consumer standpoint, our levels of exposures are very, very low, Winter said. But that doesnt mean farmers can just dump the stuff willy-nilly. Im not here to say pesticides are fine and we shouldnt worry about it. We need to regulate them.

Since the U.S. government began regulating organic products in 1990, proponents have claimedthat eating organic food makes us healthier. That claim, as difficult as it is to nail down, is ultimately misleading.

When comparing (organic) apples to (conventional) apples, the evidence simply doesnt suggest that organic makes people healthier. After analyzing 240 studies about the nutritional value of organic food, the authors of a2012 review study published in the Annals of Internal Medicineconcluded that they [lack] strong evidence that organic foods are significantly more nutritious than conventional foods. (The researchers did conclude, however, that eating organic could reduce consumers exposure to pesticide residues and the possibility of ingesting antibiotic-resistant bacteria).

But defining what makes a consumer healthy or at least healthier than someone else is not always clear. Additional nutrients may in fact be good for us, but does that mean we require them to be healthy, or are we just fine without them?A 2016 review study published in the British Journal of Nutritionanalyzed 170 studies, concluding that organic dairy and meat had higher levels of omega-3s acids that have been linked to lower rates of heart disease and better immune function than their conventional counterparts. While increased levels of omega-3s have been shown to be good for you, it doesnt necessarily justify paying the premium for organic dairy and meat conventional meat and dairy are not entirely devoid of omega-3s.

The ability to alter the genetic makeup of a crop has been the topic of heated debate for decades. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) crops with genomes that have been augmented with DNA from other organisms have permanently changed the agricultural industry. Scientists have created genetically engineered (GE) varieties of crops containing genes that protect them from pests, weeds, or even certain plant viruses.

Even though the first GMOs hit the market 23 years ago, the debate surrounding their safetystill rages, fueled bymisinformation about the impact they have on health.

Genetically engineering crops allows scientists to transfer desirable traits individually a much more efficient processthan cross-breeding, a less high-tech method that may also transfer anumber of traits that may pose a threat to the newly created plant. Cross-breeding also limits the palette of new traits to traits that are already present in either the male or female plant; genetic engineering, on the other hand, allows for scientists to use foreign but desirable traits.

GMOs are also not limited to unnatural, synthetically engineered uses they can take advantage of natural processes as well. For instance, the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) was discovered to be a naturally-occurring insecticide more than 100 years ago. Recently, bioengineers have modified the genes of crops such as corn to express the insecticidal protein present in this natural microorganism, foregoing the need to physically spray crops with it separately. As a result, the crop itself is toxic to insects, and neighboring fields and ecosystems are largely unaffected.

Fear of GMOs, and their purported effects on health, gives consumers another reason to stick to organic. The European Union prohibits farmers from growing GMOs; other nations like India have dragged their feet in allowing the cultivation of GMOs because of vehement backlash. In the U.S., products that contain GMOs will soon berequired by federal law to be labeled as such.

These precautions, however, are woefully unfounded; as of right now, there is no trustworthy evidence that any GMO-derived food poses health risks to humans. If anything, genetic modifications make crops safer for agricultural workers (genetic tweaks make crops more resistant to damage from insects and viral infections, so plants need fewer pesticides) and even make them more nutritious, bringing a healthful variety to more people worldwide.According to the WHO, no foods available today based on genetically modified crops have been shown to have a negative effect on human health in the countries in which they have been approved.

Ihave yet to see any evidence that suggests that GM crops are any more dangerous than their conventional counterparts, Winter said.

So why do the anti-GMO myths persist? A group of biotechnologists and philosophers from Ghent University hypothesized that negative portrayals of GMOs are intuitively appealing. The idea of introducing foreign genes into the food you eat, the researchers argue, is notmeddling with the characteristics of organisms seems unnatural, and scientists are often accused of overreaching their boundaries, playing God.

While GMOs have so far not been shown to harm consumers, thats not to say they never could. There is no evidence of any harmful impacts from eating genetically engineered crops that are grown today, but I cant say that about crops from ten years from now, Gregory Jaffe, director of biotechnology at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), told Futurism. Food safety regulation, then, will become even more important as new genetic modification tools like CRISPR become more common. Regulators will need to apply a case-by-case approach to ensure the safety of consumers and producers alike when it comes to genetically engineered crops, Jaffe said.

People who oppose GMOs often note their purported effect on the environment. They fear that genetic modifications could jump from farms to the larger natural environment, or that GMO crops suppress the natural biodiversity of an area. Perhaps most cuttingly, they note that GMOs demand a greater use of herbicides, which reduces biodiversity and makes weeds more resistant to the chemicals.

These criticisms do have a modicum of truth to them. Genetic modifications have jumped from crops to local varieties, albeit infrequently, and farmers are leaning heavily (arguably too heavily) on the same types of crops, which leaves them vulnerable to disease. A 2016 study foundthat farmers who raised genetically-modified soybeans used more herbicide than farmers who didnt adopt the herbicide-resistant GM strains.Researchers admit that we still have a lot to learn about the environmental impacts of GMOs.

But overall, GMOs dont cause as much damage as their critics may have you believe. The same 2016 study found that GMOs actually reduced the amount of pesticides needed to raise the same amount of maize compared to crops that didnt use GM strains of maize engineered to resist pests. Another 2014 study found that genetically modified crops had a 22 percent greater yield than non-GM varieties. More food per square meter could mean that less land is needed worldwide for agriculture, leaving more habitats undisturbed or allocating more land for natural reserves or wildlife corridors. Plus, many GMO crops need less water than organic or non-GM varieties, which will help feed everyone in a warmer world.

Scientists are still not completely sure if GMOs are better for the environment than other types of crops. But they at least demand fewer resources than organic crops.

At the end of the day, organic food isnt a bad option. And neither are GMOs. But consumers should make their food choices based on science, not hearsay. Many myths persist around the risks of GMOs and the benefits of organic foods. But one thing is clear: eating fruits and vegetables is the most important thing, no matter if theyre organic or GMO.

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Is Organic Really Better? 4 Food Myths Debunked By Science

We all want to provide the best and most nutritious food for our families along with minimizing or totally eliminating the toxins to which we are exposed. Grocery shopping can be difficult and expensive, especially if we are constantly worrying about whether we should purchase organic vs. non-organic foods. Lets talk about the difference between organic and non organic foods.

Im sure that many of you are like me and are a little skeptical of the crunchy, Yoga Mom, gluten-free, organic craze that we find ourselves in the middle of. So is organic worth it?

Lets get to the bottom of the organic trend. Whats the difference between organic and non organic foods?

In my quest for the truth on the organic food issue, I soon found a raging debate about the difference between organic and non-organic foods that usually centers around these 3 concerns:

Chemicals in Organic vs Non Organic Food

In the words of the University of Arizonas College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: (1)

Organic foods are defined as those foods that are grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, genetic engineering, pesticides, or drugs. Pesticides are chemical or control agents made to kill insects, weeds, and fungal pests that damage crops.

Non-organic foods, therefore, are either directly manufactured with or are indirectly contaminated by synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, genetic engineering, pesticides or drugs.

Aesthetics of Fresh Produce

Many people argue that organic food looks and feels differently than non-organic food. They feel conventional food items almost look too perfect; whereas organic produce resembles the fresh fruit and veggies in your back yard garden with non-symmetrical shapes, varying colors and even some blemishes. Food Sentry offers one explanation why this is so:

The short version is that much non-organic, unprocessed or minimally processed produce is treated with a variety of growth-enhancing substances and is also commonly subjected to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grading and quality standards (voluntarily), while organic produce is not. (2)

We cannot prove whether or not this is true, but it does give some credence to the Ugly Food Movement, doesnt it? (3)

Nutrition Quality of Organic Food

The Mayo Clinic claims that organic foods are not more nutritious than non-organic varieties. A recent study examined the past 50 years worth of scientific articles about the nutrient content of organic and conventional foods and the conclusion was that there was not a significant difference in the nutrient content. (4) Yet, this perspective isnt supported by everyone.

The British Journal of Nutrition published a paper that evaluated 343 studies on the topic, and decidedly concluded that organic foods are truly the healthier option because they contain up to 69% more antioxidants than non-organic foods. (5)

Because of the importance that antioxidants have in the prevention and successful treatment of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, neurodegenerative disease and cancer this information should not be taken lightly. The study also showed that organic foods have considerably less cadmium (a toxic metal) and, of course, pesticide residue.

The important message is this: When you consider the amount of research that has been done pinpointing the specific dangers associated with eating conventional, pesticide-ridden foods, why would anyone purposely choose non-organic food if they were able to choose organic?

When we keep in mind that we are what we eat, it shouldnt be a surprise to find out that the risks associated with pesticides are dramatic and widespread. According to a recent article in the journal IJRET: International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology:

The World Health Organization estimates that there are 3 million cases of pesticide poison in each year and up to 220,000 deaths, primarily in developing countries. The potential health effects of pesticides include asthma, allergies, and hypersensitivity, and pesticide exposure is also linked with cancer, hormone disruption, and problems with reproduction and fetal development. Children are at greater risk from exposure to pesticides because of their small size: relative to their size, children eat, drink, and breathe more than adults. Their bodies and organs are growing rapidly, which also makes them more susceptible; in fact, children may be exposed to pesticides even while in the womb. (6)

Because of modern landscaping and farming practices, pesticides are so invasive that virtually no one is safe from them. How many of the above health conditions can be directly caused by eating non-organic food? No one knows.

A 2000 report from the Greater Boston Physician for Social Responsibility emphasizes that using organophosphates, especially around the home and at school, can put children in a dangerous situation. (7)

Just imagine the consequences if we added non-organic foods to the mix! These are just the side effects of kids being exposed to pesticides on their playgrounds.

Since it is impossible to avoid pesticide exposure entirely, it is very important to limit the exposure in our food supply. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has developed a list called the Dirty Dozen that helps consumers have full disclosure on the levels of pesticides in their foods, and which foods contain the most pesticides. (8)

1. Apples 2. Strawberries 3. Grapes 4. Celery 5. Peaches 6. Spinach 7. Sweet bell peppers 8. Imported nectarines 9. Cucumbers 10. Cherry tomatoes 11. Imported snap peas 12. Potatoes

This doesnt mean that other non-organic produce items are not a problem. The point of this list is to highlight the significant dangers that these 12 foods contain.

The most notable findings according to EWGs research were: (8)

During the third year of the EWGs listing research, they expanded their Dirty Dozen list by adding a plus category to document these additional food items: (8)

The two foods that contain trace levels of highly hazardous pesticides. Leafy greens kale and collard greens and hot peppers do not meet traditional Dirty Dozen ranking criteria but were frequently contaminated with insecticides that are toxic to the human nervous system. EWG recommends that people who eat a lot of these foods buy organic instead.

At the rate that food manufacturers are going, you can only guess how long this list will stay to just 14.

On the other end of the spectrum is what the EWG calls The Clean Fifteen, fresh fruits and vegetables that are the least likely to contain significant pesticide residues. (8)

1. Avocados 2. Sweet corn 3. Pineapples 4. Cabbage 5. Frozen sweet peas 6. Onions 7. Asparagus 8. Mangoes 9. Papayas 10. Kiwis 11. Eggplant 12. Grapefruit 13. Cantaloupe 14. Cauliflower 15. Sweet potatoes

Overall, these 15 foods can be eaten without worrying about harmful chemicals, which makes sense. Most of these foods have thick protective skin layers or shells, which naturally ward off pests. The others are buried deep in the soil and, as long as the soil isnt irradiated with Round Up or some other harmful chemical, the fruit should be fine.

Some notable findings from EWGs research on the Clean Fifteen: (8)

We must be cautious when we shop for our groceries as these harmful pesticides can be hidden ingredients. As a consumer who is concerned with natural health and disease reversal, it is important to educate yourself on what you and your family are eating.

Although organic foods are more expensive and can be more challenging to find at the grocery store, buying organic is definitely the easiest decision you can ever make for you and your familys health.

Remember to grow your own food as much as possible and join a local, organic co-op if you can. If you absolutely must purchase non-organic produce, stay away from the Dirty Dozen Plus 2 and keep in mind that organic grains, dairy and most other products are certainly the healthiest way to go.

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The Difference Between Organic And Non Organic Foods

Organic foods are widely available in supermarkets as well as specialty health food stores and farmers markets. People purchase organic fruits, vegetables, grains, and meats for a variety of reasonsamong them the perceived benefits of organic food. Some studies suggest that organic produce and meat contain higher levels of nutrients that promote health and wellness. Organic fruits and vegetables can also contain fewer residues of pesticides used in conventional farming.

Organic foods can cost up to twice as much as conventional foods, but are they actually healthier? Based strictly on scientific evidence, the truthful answer is maybe. But there are other reasons to buy organic, toolike supporting local agriculture and protecting environmental quality.

Technically, organic just means that something comes from living (or formerly living) matter. But organic foods are grown and processed with organic farming methods, which exclude certain practices that are normal in conventional agriculture. The no go list for organic farming include:

The results of an online consumer survey by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) suggests that about half of Americans who buy organic food do so because they believe it offers health benefits. Organic can be up to twice the cost of conventional foods, but what are you getting for your money?

Organically raised meat may also contain higher amounts of healthy fats. A review in the British Journal of Nutrition examined 67 published studies of organic and conventional raised meat from beef, pigs, poultry, lamb, goat, and rabbit. Saturated fat content in organic versus conventionally raised beef were similar or lower, while the percentage of omega-3 fatty acid was 47 percent higher on average across all types of meat.

Studies like these support the public perception that organic produce and meats are more nutritious. But there is an important caveat: Higher levels of certain nutrients in a food does not necessarily mean that eating that food will improve your health or prevent chronic illnesses like heart disease and cancer.

The organic foods, such as fruits and vegetables, were 30 percent less likely to contain detectable levels of pesticide residues. Two studies found higher levels of pesticide traces in the urine of children who ate non-organic foods. However, no more than 6 percent of the foods covered in the studies exceeded allowable limits of pesticide residues.

The bottom line: In the study cited above, organic foods contained lower levels of contaminants, but with no strong evidence that it prevents health problems. The researchers noted, Despite the widespread perception that organically produced foods are more nutritious than conventional alternatives, we did not find robust evidence to support this perception.

That may sound pretty damning, but this is just one review and the jury is not in. The complex scientific issues and politics of the organic food movement can make your head spin. But since there arent any obvious risks associated with properly grown and processed organic foods, many people opt for organic and are willing to pay a premium for it.

And dont forget there are other appealing benefits of organic food besides your own health. People perceive it as a way they can help to help preserve the health of the environment, too. Others like the idea of supporting local organic farmers.

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Benefits of Organic Food: What Research Tells Us ...