scholarly journals A Systematic Review of Organic Versus Conventional Food Consumption: Is There a Measurable Benefit on Human Health?

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vigar ◽  
Myers ◽  
Oliver ◽  
Arellano ◽  
Robinson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Organic Food ◽  
Observational Research ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Current Evidence Base ◽  
Organic Food Consumption

The current review aims to systematically assess the evidence related to human health outcomes when an organic diet is consumed in comparison to its conventional counterpart. Relevant databases were searched for articles published to January 2019. Clinical trials and observational research studies were included where they provided comparative results on direct or indirect health outcomes. Thirty-five papers met the criteria for inclusion in the review. Few clinical trials assessed direct improvements in health outcomes associated with organic food consumption; most assessed either differences in pesticide exposure or other indirect measures. Significant positive outcomes were seen in longitudinal studies where increased organic intake was associated with reduced incidence of infertility, birth defects, allergic sensitisation, otitis media, pre-eclampsia, metabolic syndrome, high BMI, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The current evidence base does not allow a definitive statement on the health benefits of organic dietary intake. However, a growing number of important findings are being reported from observational research linking demonstrable health benefits with organic food consumption. Future clinical research should focus on using long-term whole-diet substitution with certified organic interventions as this approach is more likely to determine whether or not true measurable health benefits exist.

Exploring the role of transaction costs in the intensity of organic food consumption in Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrei Cechin ◽  
Jean Pierre Passos Medaets ◽  
Armando Fornazier ◽  
Ana Carolina Pereira Zoghbi
Keyword(s):  
Transaction Costs ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Organic Food ◽  
Logistic Models ◽  
Multinomial Regression ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organic Food Consumption

PurposeOrganic food has additional quality attributes compared to those found in conventional food, such as environmental responsibility and health benefits. Information about these attributes is scarce and complex, the assortment of organic foods is deficient and there are fewer places that sell this kind of food. These factors increase the uncertainty and the transaction costs (TCs) for potential organic fresh fruit and vegetable (FFV) consumers. This paper aims to show the influence of these costs on the intensity of organic FFV consumption, particularly among high-income consumers.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical strategy was based on a survey, and data were collected by administering a structured online questionnaire among residents of the Brazilian Federal District. Organic food consumption was decomposed into three different intensity categories. Data analysis was based on two logistic models, a multinomial regression and an ordered regression, where perceived economic value and different dimensions of TCs were the main independent variables, and the intensity of organic food consumption was the dependent variable.FindingsThe results show that organic food consumers are not a homogeneous group, and that perceived economic value and the TCs associated with searching for marketplaces, inadequate product assortment and distrust in health benefits and in organic authenticity are important inhibitors of organic FFV consumption and help explain the intensity of consumption.Originality/valueThis study innovates, as it takes a post-purchase approach, examines different groups based on the intensity of their consumption of organic FFV and focuses on perceived economic value and TCs as important explanations of the intensity of organic FFV consumption.

scholarly journals Integrated Soil and Crop Management in Organic Agriculture: A Logical Framework to Ensure Food Quality and Human Health?

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2494
Author(s):  
Leonidas Rempelos ◽  
Marcin Baranski ◽  
Juan Wang ◽  
Timothy N. Adams ◽  
Kolawole Adebusuyi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Organic Farming ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Nutritional Quality ◽  
Organic Food ◽  
Meat Consumption ◽  
Whole Grain ◽  
Quality Of Food ◽  
Organic Food Consumption

The environmental and biodiversity benefits of organic farming are widely recognized, but there is still controversy about the effects of organic production methods on the nutritional composition of food and human health. In the first part of this article therefore, we critically review the evidence that organic farming methods improve the nutritional quality of food crops. Moreover, we summarize our current understanding of how quality gains are linked to the implementation of the “innovations” introduced into conventional crop production during the intensification or “green revolution” of agriculture over the last 100 years. In the second part of the article, we critically review the evidence for the range of health benefits related to organic food consumption. Specifically, we describe and discuss the results from: (i) dietary intervention studies which have found that organic food consumption substantially reduces pesticide exposure in humans and affects feed intake, growth, hormone balances and immune system responsiveness in animal models; (ii) human cohort/epidemiological studies which have reported significant positive associations between organic food consumption and the lower incidence of a range of diseases including obesity, metabolic syndrome, cancer, hypospadias, pre-eclampsia, eczema and middle ear infections in infants; (iii) interactions and trade-offs between diet (e.g., whole-grain, fruit and vegetables and reduced red-meat consumption) and food types (organic versus conventional) concerning public health and future food security. The article also identifies knowledge gaps and highlights the need for (i) long-term, factorial field experiments to understand the relative effects of agronomic and pedoclimatic drivers on crop quality and safety, and (ii) clinical trials and additional human cohort studies to confirm the positive health outcomes linked to organic food consumption. The main conclusions from our review are that there is growing evidence that (i) agricultural intensification has resulted in a reduction in the nutritional quality of food and the sustainability of food production, and (ii) organic farming practices not only improve food quality and human health, but also food security. This is particularly true where current nutritional guidelines (increasing whole-grain, fruit and vegetable products, while reducing red-meat consumption) are implemented.

scholarly journals Effects of organic food consumption on human health; the jury is still out!

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 1287333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcin Barański ◽  
Leonidas Rempelos ◽  
Per Ole Iversen ◽  
Carlo Leifert
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Organic Food ◽  
Organic Food Consumption

Narrowing the gap: Factors driving organic food consumption

2017 ◽  
Vol 166 ◽  
pp. 1438-1447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brahim Chekima ◽  
Aisat Igau @ Oswald ◽  
Syed Azizi Wafa Syed Khalid Wafa ◽  
Khadidja Chekima
Keyword(s):  
Food Consumption ◽  
Organic Food ◽  
Organic Food Consumption

Green Consumption

2019 ◽  
pp. 376-395
Author(s):  
Ozan Kaya ◽  
Feridun Duman
Keyword(s):  
Social Welfare ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Organic Food ◽  
The State ◽  
Green Marketing ◽  
Green Consumption ◽  
Green Consumers ◽  
Food Market ◽  
Organic Food Consumption

The main purpose of this chapter is to reveal the profile of organic food consumers and the factors that affect consumers' motivation for organic food consumption as being one of the most important aspects of green marketing and green consumption. Therefore, this study first dealt with green consumers and green consumption and then, organic food consumption and the state of organic food market were evaluated and finally, an empirical research was conducted with 393 respondents in order to better determine the consumers of organic food consumption in Turkey. According to the findings, four motivations were found in influencing the behavior of organic food consumption. These are: health, ecological and social welfare, sensory appeal and natural contents. More specifically, this research reveals that those that have children participated in this research frequently consume organic food.

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