The Idea of an Essay, Volume 3

2016 Composition Contest Winnners 25 mentioned was that there have been no studies that have observed a population consuming primarily organic or conventional food over a long period of time. A long-term study looking at a population would be beneficial to this argument, but since no studies of that nature exist, the only conclusions we canmake are from the evidence we have now. It is clear how the health benefits for organic food are not what people perceive it to be, and changing society’s mind on this matter would be difficult. Since organic agriculture is so beneficial to the environment, and its increasing popularity continues to give it the center of attention, any effort for society to rethink what organic agriculture really is would be in vain. The most difficult aspect is the complexity of the subject. With so many different variables present, a clear definitive answer will never be achieved. Some studies show how organic agriculture does have nutrition differences, while others report the exact opposite. Regardless, the fact that organic food is a higher-quality product does not change. People may purchase it for the taste, or the positive effects it has on the environment, but they should not be deceived into believing that organic food is more beneficial to their health. It’s not healthier, just cleaner. It is a mis- definition of terms that marketing uses to suggest what is cleaner, is healthier, creating a mob mentality that consumers eat up. Cleaner does not equal healthier. So the next time you purchase organic food at the supermarket, enjoy it for its quality, taste, and the positive effects it has on the environment. But do not be deceived into believing organic food will increase your health since the nutritional differences found in organic agriculture are not significant enough to make a difference at an observable level. References Smith-Spangler, C., Brandeau, M., Hunter, G., Bavinger, J., Pearson, M., Eschbach, P., & Bravata, D. (2012). Are organic foods safer or healthier than conventional alternatives?: a systematic review. Annals of Internal Medicine, 157(5) U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2014). Organic Standards. Agricultural Marketing Service. Kahl, H. (2004). Role and importance of nitrogen in your soil. Soil & Health Association of New Zealand. Synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop production. (2014). Code of Federal Regulations. Title 7, Pt. 205.601