The decision to feed your baby organic baby food or regular baby food should be based on facts and not fear. The factors that can play into the choice include the health benefits of choosing organic, the potential health risks of using regular baby food, the nutritional value of organic versus regular baby food, and the cost considerations of organic baby food.
Organic Food Definition
The U.S. Department of Agriculture controls the certification of organics, and companies selling organic products must meet certain criteria. Organically produced food is grown without the assistance of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, "sewage sludge" fertilizers and genetic modification, according to the website Organic. Certain naturally derived pesticides are used, but chemically produced pesticides, like organophosphorus, are excluded. Liz Casler of Family Education also explains that organic meats are from animals that were fed organic feed, had access to the outdoors and did not receive antibiotic treatments.
Health Benefits of Organic Food
The Environmental Health Perspective, or EHP, suggests that children who consume organic diets have a decreased probability of developing neurologic diseases because they are not exposed to as much organophosphorus pesticide residue. Children who eat organic fruits and vegetables might show health benefits related to improved diets, such as weight control, fewer vitamin or mineral deficiencies, or decreased development of chronic diseases. There are also environmental benefits related to reducing pesticide that might have an indirect health benefit, Casler suggests. According to the Mayo Clinic, the safety of organic and non-organic food is comparable, because improper storage of any food can cause a food-borne illness.
Health Risks of Regular Baby Food
The Environmental Protection Agency links certain pesticides commonly used in conventional agriculture with certain diseases, including nervous system disorders, cancers and birth defects, according to Casler. Casler explains that the EPA considers most pesticide residue to be very low, so the health risks are low. However, a study published by the EHP reports on the finding of organophosphorus pesticide residue in the urine of children eating a conventional diet. An article published in "The Canadian Family Physician" urges medical professionals to educate parents about the diseases that have been linked to pesticide residue exposure, including reproductive complications, dermatitis and genetic disruptions in lymphocytes, cells that play a role in immunity.
Nutritional Value
According to the Mayo Clinic, there is no scientific evidence suggesting that organic baby food is better for the baby than regular baby food, so it is up to the parent to decide whether to buy organic baby food . In contrast, Organic cites preliminary studies showing that specific vitamin levels are higher in certain organic foods than in their non-organic counterparts. Casler takes the middle ground, suggesting that choosing to eat more fruits and vegetables and less meat, and selecting organic versions of certain foods that are found to have higher pesticide residue, like strawberries, will have more health benefits than eating a poorly balanced but organic diet.
Costs of Organic Food
Organic food, whether baby food or grown-up food, costs more than the conventional counterparts. According to the Mayo Clinic, the benefits of organic food might not be worth the higher price. However, Organic claims that the benefits--environmental, taste and health--outweigh the costs. According to Organic, the increased cost of organic food is due to lack of federal subsidies that conventional farmers receive, resulting in a more "true" cost of food production.
