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| 'No proof' organic food is better | 'No proof' organic food is better |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| There is no evidence organic food is better than food grown conventionally, minister David Miliband has said. | There is no evidence organic food is better than food grown conventionally, minister David Miliband has said. |
| The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said organic food was more of a "lifestyle choice that people can make". | |
| He insisted that food grown with the use of pesticides and other chemicals should not be regarded as inferior. | He insisted that food grown with the use of pesticides and other chemicals should not be regarded as inferior. |
| In an interview with the Sunday Times he said: "There isn't any conclusive evidence either way." | In an interview with the Sunday Times he said: "There isn't any conclusive evidence either way." |
| Organic sales rise | Organic sales rise |
| Mr Miliband: "It's only 4% of total farm produce, not 40%, and I would not want to say that 96% of our farm produce is inferior because it's not organic." | Mr Miliband: "It's only 4% of total farm produce, not 40%, and I would not want to say that 96% of our farm produce is inferior because it's not organic." |
| He said despite the rise in organic sales being "exciting" for shoppers, they should not think of conventionally-produced food as "second best". | He said despite the rise in organic sales being "exciting" for shoppers, they should not think of conventionally-produced food as "second best". |
| According to the Soil Association, organic food sales in the UK increased by 30% to £1.6bn in 2006. | According to the Soil Association, organic food sales in the UK increased by 30% to £1.6bn in 2006. |
| The association's website says organic food does not contain many of the artificial additives used in modern food production, and also have more natural vitamins and minerals. | The association's website says organic food does not contain many of the artificial additives used in modern food production, and also have more natural vitamins and minerals. |
| It also argues organic food is better for wildlife because it does not use pesticides or dangerous sprays. | It also argues organic food is better for wildlife because it does not use pesticides or dangerous sprays. |
| Pressure from shoppers has boosted the volume of organic UK produce in supermarkets, the association said last year. | Pressure from shoppers has boosted the volume of organic UK produce in supermarkets, the association said last year. |