Let’s talk about organic food. Something which has gained popularity over the past few years, due to its clever marketing as the pinnacle of health, the purest form of nature’s bounty. But in this dietitian’s opinion? It’s the quickest way to drain your wallet without any significant benefit at all, apart from the nutritional superiority you might feel when serving an organic cucumber to friends.
Here’s the truth: Organic isn’t nutritionally superior, it doesn’t mean “pesticide-free,” and it actually requires more land to grow.
Before you clutch your organic kale in horror, let’s break it down—because your hard-earned cash deserves better.
1. Nutritionally Speaking, Organic & Conventional Are Basically Twins
You’ve heard it before: “Organic has more nutrients!” Except… science says otherwise.
Multiple studies (including a Stanford review of 240+ papers and a UK systematic review) found no significant nutritional difference between organic and conventional produce. Vitamin C? Same. Antioxidants? Pretty much identical. Protein? No change.
Perhaps the place where this rumour came from was that organic has been shown to have slightly higher levels of certain polyphenols (thanks to plants fending off pests naturally), but we’re talking marginal differences—not enough to justify the 20-50% price hike. Quite frankly, these differences will make no discernible change to your health and wellness, so what’s the point?
Bottom line: It’s more important to eat more fruits and vegetables, not worrying about or avoiding them because they aren’t organic. It’s the quantities of fruits and veggies that make the difference, not if they are organic or not.
2. “Pesticide-Free” Is a Myth (Even for Organic)
“But organic doesn’t use pesticides!” Oh, my sweet summer child.
Organic farming does use pesticides—they’re just “natural” ones (like copper sulfate, pyrethrins, and neem oil). And guess what? “Natural” doesn’t always mean safer. Some organic-approved pesticides can be more toxic than synthetic ones, and they often require more frequent application because they break down faster. Not only this, but due to the fact they aren’t as effective as conventional pesticides, you actually have to spray organic produce with more of these pesticides, meaning there may be more residue on them than conventional.
Meanwhile, conventional farming uses strictly regulated synthetic pesticides at levels deemed safe for consumption. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets limits way below harmful thresholds, and washing produce removes most residues anyway.
Fun fact: The “Dirty Dozen” list (which scares people into buying organic) is based on detection, not danger. Just because a pesticide is found doesn’t mean it’s at a harmful level. Equally, the Dirty Dozen only looks at pesticide levels on conventional produce. It doesn’t compare it to the levels of the organic pesticides on the organic produce- meaning that the list is about as helpful as a chocolate teapot.
Bottom line: Both farming methods use pesticides. Neither will hurt you. Save your money and scrub your produce.
3. Organic Farming Wastes Land (And That’s Bad for the Planet)
Organic farming has lower yields—about 20-25% less than conventional farming. That means more land, water, and resources to grow the same amount of food.
In a world where farmland is limited and hunger is real, inefficiency isn’t exactly eco-friendly. If we switched entirely to organic, we’d need to cut down more forests to keep up with demand, and the reality is, we might not have enough space. .
Bottom line: Organic isn’t the environmental savior it claims to be. If you really care about sustainability, focus on local, seasonal, and less food waste—not an overpriced sticker.
So… Should You Ever Buy Organic?
If you want to buy organic for personal reasons (like supporting small farms, specific growing practices or just because it’s on sale), go for it! But don’t do it because you think it’s healthier, cleaner, or better for the planet—because the science says otherwise.
TL;DR:
✅ Nutrition? No real difference.
✅ Pesticides? Both use ’em.
✅ Yields? Organic needs more land.
✅ Your wallet? Keep it happy—skip the hype.
Now go enjoy some non-organic but still delicious and nutritious produce. Your bank account will thank you.
Diets Debunked 