Viewpoint: Organic ingredients don’t make junk food less fattening or more nutritious

organic doritos
Credit: The Marketing Sage

Our increasingly health-conscious society has created more and more of a demand for organic versions of our favorite junk foods ― things like Newman’s Own “Oreos” or Annie’s boxed mac and cheese ― and American consumers are eating it up. But are these products actually healthier for us than their non-organic equivalents?

Studies show that organic crops contain higher levels of antioxidants and certain vitamins and minerals, for one, and organic dairy contains much higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Plus, eating organically means limiting your exposure to chemical pesticides and herbicides….

[Editor’s note: Current research shows no significant nutritional difference between organic and conventional food. Pesticides on food currently pose no threat to human health.]

[O]rganic junk foods are often identical to their conventional counterparts. They tend to be equally high in sugar and low in protein and fiber, which makes a food less satiating and more likely to cause health problems long term.

Organic junk foods also may contain similarly refined sugars and starches. Although the USDA restricts the use of high fructose corn syrup….brown rice syrup ― a highly refined sweetener with an equally high glycemic index ― is often used as a replacement.

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