Is organic really good for you

by Nicola Shepherd

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IS ORGANIC food all it's cracked up to be

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Claims that organic food is better for us have been criticised as 'unsubstantiated' by a recent commons select committee report.

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But demand for organic food is outstripping supply, and it is the only growth area in farming.

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Here are ten things you ought to know about organic food:

1. Artificial pesticides are not used in organic�food prodution, but those produced from natural chemicals are sometimes used.
2. There is no single standard for organic food and the term has no officially approved definition.
3. Organic farmers receive more state aid than non-organic farmers, even though their market is more buoyant.
4. The UK Register of Organic Food Standards has no legal powers.
5. Frozen food chain Iceland hastily dropped its all-organic frozen vegetables range after a dramatic sales slump due to increased prices.
6. There is no scientific evidence that organic food is safer than conventionally produced food.
7. There has been�little scientific research to�back up the� health claims of organic food producers.
8. A�government-backed scheme offers grants for farmers to convert to organic food production.
9. The British population could never be fed on organic food alone, as production could never meet demand.
10. Demand for organic food is growing at an annual rate of 40%, according to the Soil Association.