For related articles and more information, please visit OCA's
All About Organics page, Farm Issues page and our Health issues
page. A recent press release from the Stanford School of
Medicine read, "Little evidence of health benefits from organic
foods." The headline could just have easily read, "Despite
billions spent on research and subsidies, conventional foods
found more dangerous than organic." The Stanford study was
striking in several regards: 1) No new research was conducted -
the Stanford team simply reviewed existing studies; 2) The
review included research conducted under different sets of
organic standards; 3) The review included research conducted
prior to 2002, when USDA National Organic Program Regulations
took effect; and 4) The review concluded that organic foods
consistently contain fewer pesticide residues and antibiotic-
resistant bacteria, and significantly higher levels of
beneficial nutrients in organic milk. The Stanford team used a
novel and simplistic "risk difference" measurement to