The organic food business is booming because we want better food, both for us and for the environment. One of the main reasons we buy organic products is because the farmers do not use synthetic pesticides. What we may not take into account is that synthetic pesticides are replaced with natural ones that have not been studied, meaning the side effects are unknown.

Does eating organic produce lead to better health? Research has yet to link eating organic foods to better health, although this does not necessarily mean a link does not exist. A review in the British Journal of Nutrition reported substantially lower levels of pesticides and higher levels of antioxidants in organic produce. However, an oft-cited analysis Stanford scientists found very few differences between the nutrients in organically grown and conventionally grown produce. Buying organic produce may help reduce synthetic pesticide consumption, but there’s no guarantee it will improve health.