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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'No proof' organic food is better | 'No proof' organic food is better |
| (about 5 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 environment secretary said organic food was more of a "lifestyle choice that people can make". | |
| There is no "conclusive evidence either way" concerning the health effects of pesticides, he told the Sunday Times. | |
| The Soil Association, which regulates organic food, said studies show a difference between organic food and food produced using industrial methods. | |
| I would not want to say that 96% of our farm produce is inferior because it's not organic David Miliband href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5174&start=0&edition=1&ttl=20070107113556" class="">Send us your comments | |
| It was critical of Mr Miliband's suggestion that food grown with the use of pesticides and other chemicals should not be regarded as inferior. | |
| 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. |
| 'Extra payment' | |
| Robin Maynard, the association's campaigns director, said the environment secretary's comments were "slightly disappointing". | |
| "It has been shown over the years that there is a difference between food produced organically and that produced using industrial methods. | |
| "It is not just a lifestyle choice in terms of the environment, organic is better for that. | |
| "Mr Miliband's own government has recognised in the past that organic food can be better for that. In fact organic farmers get an extra payment due to this." | |
| Long-term research | |
| However, Mr Maynard admitted there was a lack of studies showing how organic food could be healthier. | |
| He said this stemmed from the difficulties of pinpointing exactly how such food was healthier and because research needed to be carried out over "tens of years". | |
| 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. |