Fewer Pesticides, Same Nutrition

While organic produce typically contains lower levels of pesticides than conventional produce, nutritional differences between organic and conventional foods appear to be minimal, according to the report.

Organically raised meat is less likely to be contaminated with drug-resistant bacteria, but the researchers suggest that organic milk may not be worth the extra money.

University of Florida pediatrics professor Janet Silverstein, MD, who was an author of the report, says parents with limited food budgets don’t have to buy organic to feed their children well.

“The most important thing is that children eat a healthy diet that includes a lot of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat milk,” she says. “Parents with limited means should not choose to buy organic if it means their children will be eating fewer of these healthy foods.”

Organic Foods and Health: More Study Needed

The report was presented Monday in New Orleans at the AAP’s annual meeting, and it will appear in the November issue of the journal Pediatrics.

“At this point, we simply do not have the scientific evidence to know whether the difference in pesticide levels will impact a person’s health over a lifetime, though we do know that children -- especially young children whose brains are developing -- are uniquely vulnerable to chemical exposures,” he says.

For parents who are concerned about food cost and pesticide exposure, Forman says it makes sense to buy organic in some cases, but not others.

Conventionally grown apples, celery, bell peppers, peaches, strawberries, and grapes are among the fruits and vegetables with the highest levels of pesticides, according to the nonprofit organization Environmental Working Group, which each year publishes a list of pesticide levels in produce.

Onions, sweet corn, pineapples, avocados, and cabbage have some of the lowest pesticide levels, the group says.

According to the report, the research suggests that organic milk and conventionally processed milk have similar levels of contaminants, including growth hormones.

The AAP panel emphasized that all milk that children drink should be pasteurized to reduce the risk of bacterial infection.