organic vs - york college of...

Running head: ORGANIC VS. NON-ORGANIC 1

Organic vs. Nonorganic:

Are Organic Foods the

Better Choice?

Sheldon Cooper

York College of Pennsylvania

ORGANIC VS. NON-ORGANIC 2

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to provide others with the facts about organic food and

to show what society is still unsure about. It was also to see how knowledgeable York College

students are about organic foods and to see if they include organic foods in their diet. The goal of

this research is to make people think about why they do not include organic food in their diet,

and if they already do, it is to make people think about if it makes them healthier, as well as why

they eat organic foods.


Introduction

Most Americans are trying to live a good and healthy lifestyle. One thing needed to live a

healthy lifestyle is the right diet. That is when some people may wonder, ‘Should I buy more

organic food, or stick with buying conventional food?’ There are upsides to buying organic

foods, but what most people overlook are the downsides to buying organic foods. Not only that,

but some people are confused about what organic is. For example, there is the misconception that

the terms ‘organic’ and ‘natural’ are interchangeable, when they really mean two different things

(Dahm, Samonte, & Shows, 2009). It is important for people to understand what makes foods

organic and what makes foods conventional, and that organic foods may not always be the better

choice.

First, it is important to know the real meaning of organic. Foods are organic because of

the way they are grown. Farmers use natural fertilizers and pesticides, manage weeds manually,

and only give their animals organic feed (Mayo Clinic staff, 2011). This is where one

misconception lies. Many people believe that organic foods do not contain pesticides, but in

reality, organic foods just contain fewer pesticides than conventional foods. In addition, the farm

animals also need access to the outdoors (Is organic food better for you?, 2004), and there are no

growth hormones that are given to the animals (Organic foods-overview, 2011). Lastly, organic

farmers avoid using genetically modified organisms, also known as GMOs, and avoid using

irradiation (Dahm et al., 2009).

There are also other requirements, established by the USDA, which foods must adhere to

in order to be considered organic. First, the food needs to have the official USDA seal to be

considered organic, but it is also important to keep in mind that using the seal is voluntary


(Organic foods-overview, 2011). Organic farmers have to follow the certain requirements in

order to have the seal. At least 95% of the ingredients must be organic to have the seal (Is

organic food better for you?, 2004). If the product contains at least 70% organic ingredients, it

can say that it contains organic ingredients on the label, but it is not allowed to have the seal (Is

organic food better for you?). If the product contains less than 70% organic ingredients, it is not

allowed to have the USDA seal or say it contains organic ingredients on the label, but it can put

any organic ingredients it does contain on the ingredients list in the nutritional facts (Is organic

food better for you?). This information should help clarify which foods are organic.

Second, it is important to know the advantages of organic foods. The one that most

people are aware of is that organic foods have fewer pesticides on them. However, even though

organic foods contain fewer pesticides than conventional foods, the pesticide residues on

conventional foods don’t exceed safety limits (Mayo Clinic staff, 2011). Organic foods also do

not contain food additives like artificial flavors and food coloring (Mayo Clinic staff), and the

organic process as a whole is kinder to animals than the conventional process (Is organic food

better for you?, 2004). It is also arguable that it is better for the environment because of crop

rotations and mixed planting (Wilcox, 2011), and its efforts to conserve water and soil (Is

organic food better for you?, 2004).

However, with advantages come disadvantages. One of them is the environment.

According to Wilcox (2011), conventional farms produce more food per unit of land than

organic farms do. This means organic farms need more space just to match the amount of food

that conventional farms produce. Also, as mentioned before, organic farmers avoid using GMOs.

GMOs can reduce the amount synthetic chemicals used, and can reduce the amount of toxins


used (Wilcox). Some of the natural pesticides that farmers use can be more ecologically

damaging (Wilcox).

Another disadvantage about organic farming is the use natural fertilizers, which is simply

just manure. When manure is used, there is a higher risk of spreading E. coli through the manure

(Kluger, 2010). In fact, one outbreak of E. coli that occurred in Germany was traced back to an

organic farm in Bienenbüttel, Germany (Dyer, 2011). The manure could also contain other food-

borne illnesses. In addition to that, organic farmers avoid using irradiation, which is when X-rays

or any other type of radiation is used to kill bacteria. Using radiation could reduce the risk E. coli

(Dyer). Conventional farms use manure, but also use radiation to help remove any pathogens

(Wilcox, 2011). Lastly, organic foods may spoil faster, because they don’t have any waxes or

preservatives (Is organic food better for you?, 2004). By eating organic foods, there could be an

increased risk of getting sick.

Despite the disadvantages, there are certain factors that persuade people to buy organic

foods. According to Dahm et al. (2009), the number one factor is that organic foods taste better.

A study was done in Denmark by Ulf Hjelmar to discover other reasons. Some other reasons

people buy organic is because of concerns about the environment, food safety, the well-being of

animals, and family (Hjelmar, 2010). Some people stated that organic foods became a bigger part

of their diet once they started having children and families of their own (Hjelmar). The study

also looked at why people don’t purchase organic foods. These reasons included lack of

availability, high prices, lack of trust in labels, and not knowing which products were organic

(Hjelmar). Hjelmar discovered that if organic foods weren’t so expensive, they would by them

more often. Organic foods are more expensive because organic farms are smaller than


conventional ones, they require more work, cost more to feed the animals, and they don’t receive

any money from the government (Organic foods-overview, 2011).

Another study looked closely at the environmental factor. It was done by Dahm et al.

(2009) to discover if there was a relationship between organic food consumption and eco-

friendly behaviors in college students. He found out that there was a relationship between

environmentally friendly behaviors and organic food consumption (Dahm et al.). In addition, he

discovered that 50% of the students would support the use organic food on their campus, and

64% of the students reported that they would buy organic foods if offered on campus (Dahm et

al.). This may be because most of the students believe that organic foods are healthier.

With that said, are organic foods healthier like everyone thinks they are? According to a

study that was funded by the FSA, there were no significant differences in nutrition-related

health outcomes between organic and conventional foods (Dangour, Lock, Hayter, Aikenhead,

Allen, & Uauy, 2010). After a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature from the past 50

years on the nutrient content, the researchers found differences in antioxidant activity, but it was

not a big enough difference to make any kind of impact on a person’s health. A news report that

disagrees with these findings, saying that long-term studies would be needed to provide a clear

answer on whether organic food has health benefits or not (McVeigh, 2009). Gill Fine, the FSA

director commented by saying there are many reasons people choose to eat organic, but they

shouldn’t eat them on the basis that they’re healthier (McVeigh).

The previous research has done a good job in showing the reasons that people buy

organic food, how knowledgeable people are about organic food, and the nutrient content of

organic foods. One gap in the research is that all of these studies were done outside of the United

States. Not a lot of research has been done about organic foods in the United States, so these


statistics may not be totally accurate. For example, the study that was done to show the reasons

why people buy organic food was conducted in Demark. Denmark is one the richest countries in

the world, so more of them may be able to afford organic food.

Another gap would be small sample sizes. The study that was done in Denmark only

interviewed sixteen people, and only twelve publications were reviewed for nutrient content

study. Also, this study mostly referred to organic fruits and vegetables. What about the other

food groups? A survey of more people could be done, instead of interviewing only a few people.

By doing this, we can get opinions from United States citizens.

Methodology

In order to test the research question, a study was done to see how knowledgeable people

were about organic food and to see if they eat organic foods. The participants included current

students at York College of Pennsylvania. This audience was used because there is easier access

to the students on campus. There was no target class, but most of the participants were freshman.

A survey was used to obtain information from a larger amount of people than in previous studies.

These surveys were distributed electronically by email to people in my classes. A link to the

survey was also posted on the “YCP Class of 2015” page on Facebook. The survey contained ten

questions: eight multiple choice questions and two open-ended questions. The surveys were

filled out anonymously, and a total of 37 students filled out the survey. The results of the survey

were related back to the primary research to see if there was a correlation between the two.

Results

When students were asked how often they eat organic food, most of them (35.1%) said

that they don’t eat organic food at all. 21.6% percent said they only eat organic foods one to

three times a year. No one responded that they eat organic foods all of the time (see graph 1


below). In another question asking students if they thought organic foods were healthier than

non-organic foods, 35.1% of them answered with a 4 on a scale of 1-7 (1 meaning strongly

disagree, 4 meaning neither agree nor disagree, and 7 meaning strongly agree). This was the

highest percentage, but most of the answers were in the 4-7 range (see graph 2 below). When

asked if students thought ‘organic’ and ‘natural’ were interchangeable, the majority (21.6%)

answered with a 1. 16.2% of students, which was the next highest percentage, answered with

either a 2 or 3 (see graph 3 below).

Graph 1

Graph 2

How often do you eat organic food?

13

87

2

6

10

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

1 (Not atAll)

2 (1-3times ayear)

3 (5-7times ayear)

4 (5-7times amonth)

5 (1-2times aweek)

6 (3-5times aweek)

7 (All thetime)

# of

Peo

ple

Series1

Organic foods are better for us than non-organic foods:3%

0%

5%

34%

14%

22%

22%

1 (Strongly Disagree)

2

3

4 (Neither Agree norDisagree)5

6

7 (Strongly Agree)


Another question provided students with various adjectives and food groups, and the

students were asked to show what they identify as organic or non-organic. The students could

choose either organic or non-organic, or they could choose both organic and non-organic.

Students classified the following as organic: whole-grain (77.1%), natural (88.6%), more

nutritious (94.1%), fruits (94.1%), vegetables (94.1%), grains (77.1%), and water (71.4%).

Students classified the following as non-organic: conventional (96.9%), better-tasting (68.6%)

synthetic (97.1%), meat (78.8%), dairy (76.5%), and candy (100%). A graph of these results

(graph 4) can be found below.

The two open-ended questions asked students to name three things they know about

organic food, and to explain why they do don’t include organic foods in their diet.

Graph 3

The terms 'natural' and 'organic' mean the same thing:

22%

16%

16%14%

11%

16%

5%

1 (Stongly Disagree)

2

3

4 (Neitrher Agree norDisagree)

5

6

7 (Strongly Agree)


Discussion/Conclusion

Based on the results that were collected from the primary research, it seems that the

college students at York College are fairly knowledgeable about organic food. One thing from

the survey that didn’t mesh were questions 7 and 8 (see survey in Appendix). In question 7, the

number one answer was “strongly disagree,” but 88.2% of the students said that they associated

the word ‘natural’ with organic. Another thing that didn’t mesh was that the students said they

would eat more organic food if it was less expensive, but when asked if they would eat organic

foods if they were offered at school, most people answered with “neither agree nor disagree.”

This may show that people are still unsure about what organic is.

One thing that differed between the primary and the secondary research were the factors

for buying organic food. The secondary research shows that people buy organic food because

they taste better, but the primary research shows the exact opposite. The students think that non-

Graph 4

Which words do you associate with organic and/or non-organic? (Can coose both for one word)

05

10152025303540

# of

Peo

ple

Organic

Non-organic


organic foods taste better. However, the primary research does agree with the secondary research

about if organic foods are the better choice. Research shows that people are still unsure about

whether organic foods are more beneficial than non-organic foods. Students answered this

question (question 2) with “neither agree nor disagree”.

For further research, a blind taste test could be done for college students. That way they

won’t be able to tell what they’re eating, and may find that they like the organic version better.

Other age groups could also be looked at, possibly adults. Some college students and youth

depend on their parents to do the grocery shopping and may not have any say on whether to eat

organic or non-organic foods. There may also be other factors as to why adults choose or don’t

choose to eat organic foods.


References

Dangour, D., Lock, K., Hayter, A., Aikenhead, A., Allen, E., & Uauy, R. (2010). Nutrition-

related health effects of organic foods: a systematic review. The American Journal of

Clinical Nursing, Retrieved from http://www.ajcn.org

Dahm, M. J., Samonte, A. V., & Shows, A. R. (2009). Organic foods: Do eco-friendly

attitudes predict eco-friendly behaviors?. Journal of American College Health, 58(3),

Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.

Dyer, D. (2011, June 25). Kill all known germs. New Scientist, 210(2818), Retrieved from

http://web.ebscohost.com.

Hjelmar, J. (2010, December 28). Consumers’ purchase of organic food products. A matter of

convenience and reflexive practices. Institute of Governmental Research, Retrieved from


Is organic food better for you?. (2004). Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/food-

recipes/features/organic-food-better

Kluger, J. (2010, August 30). What’s so great about organic food? Time, 176(9), Retrieved from


Mayo Clinic staff. (2011, December 03). Organic foods: Are they safer? more

nutritious?. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/organic-food/NU00255

McVeigh, K. (2009, July 29). Organic food not healthier, says fsa. Retrieved from

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/29/organic-food-nutrition-fsa

Organic foods- overview. (2011, February 04). Retrieved from

http://www.webmd.com/diet/tc/organic-foods-overview

Wilcox, C. (2011, July 18). Mythbusting 101: Organic farming > conventional


agriculture. Retrieved from

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/science-sushi/2011/07/18/mythbusting-101-organic-

farming-conventional-agriculture


Appendix

Blank Survey:

1) How often do you eat organic food?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

2) Organic foods are better for us than non-organic foods:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

3) If organic foods were offered at my school, I would choose to eat them:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

4) I try my hardest to maintain a healthy diet:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

5) How often do you (or your parents) buy the organic version over the non-organic version?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

6) I have access to organic foods in my local grocery store, dining hall, or convenience store:(Check appropriate box for each)

1 (Strongly Disagree)

2 3 4 (Neither Agree nor Disagree)

5 6 7 (Strongly Agree)

I don’t know

Grocery StoreDining HallConvenience

Not at all

sometimes

All the time

Strongly disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Strongly agree

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree


Strongly disagree


Strongly agree

Not at all Sometimes All the time

1-3 times a year

5-7 times a year

1-2 times a week

3-5 times a week


Store

7) The terms ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ mean the same thing:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8) Which words do you associate with organic and/or non-organic? (Can choose both for one word)

Organic Non-organicWhole-grainNaturalConventionalBetter-tastingMore nutritiousSyntheticFruits VegetablesMeatGrainsDairyWaterCandy

9) Name 3 things that you know about organic foods. (It’s ok to answer with “I don’t know”)

10) Do you include organic food in your diet? Explain why or why not.

Other Results:

The following results are from questions 3-6 on the survey. The most popular answer for each

question is shown below.

Question 3: 4 (30.6%)

Strongly disagree


Strongly agree


Question 4: 5 (41.7%)

Question 5: 1 (33.3%)

Question 6: Grocery Store- 7 (50.0%)

Dining Hall- 1 (36.3%)

Convenience Store- 1 (33.3%)

The table below shows the mean score for the questions that were asked on a 1-7 scale.

(N=37) Mean Scores

Question 1 2.59

Question 2 5.08

Question 3 4.86

Question 4 4.70

Question 5 2.95

Question 7 3.46

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