Time magazine’s cover story, ‘The Real Cost of Cheap Food’ (Aug 31, 2009) links farm animal health and welfare with consumer health, the big missing link in current debates over human health care reforms. About time indeed! But the statement ‘There’s no firm evidence that organic is more nutritious than conventional food’ is incorrect. Studies comparing the nutrient content of organic versus conventionally grown crops report significantly lower levels of potentially toxic aluminium, mercury and lead in the organically grown, that also had higher levels of many essential trace minerals and other nutrients, notably boron, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, selenium and zinc; also more vitamin C and other antioxidants, and less nitrates and water. Read More
