Are Pesticide-Drenched Foods Really as Healthy as Organic? The Experts Say SoAaron Dykes and Melissa Melton Well yeah, it kind of does. Duh. The public has been repeatedly given the impression that organic foods are essentially no different than conventional or genetically modified foods. Many of those promoting that perception are obviously interested in maintaining public confidence in the existing food system, including ingredient lists dominated by GM corn and soy staples and grocery stores made possible by heavy applications of pesticides. A 2012 Stanford study claimed that there was no evidence that organic foods were any better for you, and the Academy of Pediatrics followed suit with recommendations that organic was no better for children. The needed long-term studies do not yet exist to show that eating pesticide-free food makes people healthier, said Joel Forman, an associate professor of pediatrics at Mount Sinai Hospital and co-author of the Pediatrics report. The impact of pesticides in growing your food which isnt allowed in certified organic crops provides more than enough reason to consider avoiding as much GMO and conventional food products as possible. But of course, it is your choice! Heres a look at just how many pesticides are used in growing typical crops like the soybeans used in this chart by ordinary farmers, depending upon which cultivation method they ascribe to (GMO with Roundup Ready soy; conventional soy; organic soy): Compare the average number of pesticides used to cultivate GM soybeans and conventional soybeans vs. organic soybeans. (And dont forget that Roundup is often applied multiple times in a season). Pesticide Residues in Conventional vs. Organic Produce Scientists have tracked pesticide residue samples collected from produce sold in grocery stores over many years analyzing data sets from the USDA, Californias Dept. of Pesticide Regulation and the Consumers Union and determined that organic produce has, on average, one third of the pesticide residue levels as compared with conventional produce, while the latter often has traces of multiple pesticides. The worst offenders showed residues from 14 types of pesticides; dont forget that these toxic agents are also taken up by the plant and may be expressed inside foods as well. While organic foods may not be perfect, they verifiably do expose consumers to less pesticides in their diet something that may be worthwhile, particularly for children. Pesticides: Hazardous to Humans and Other Living Creatures After all, many types of pesticides are outright neurotoxins, potential carcinogens and/or endocrine disruptors. It might just be a wise idea under the precautionary principle (ya know, until the evidence comes in through those long-term studies) to minimize your intake of things marked with a skull crossbones on the warning label. Roundup Upsets Photosynthesis in Plants Studies have found that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsantos best-selling herbicide Roundup, accumulates in plants and adversely affects photosynthesis which, in turn, may well affect the nutrition of your food, since photosynthesis is what makes all the good stuff happen in plants. Glyphosate Even Affects Glyphosate-Resistant Crops This remains true in glyphosate resistant (Roundup Ready GMO) crops as well, with studies pointing to a decline in the plants metabolic functions, including photosynthesis, due to the uptake of glyphosate. Good thing the EPA ya know, the Environmental Protection Agency just raised the allowable limits for glyphosate by 3,000% happy eating! 