Supermarket Challenges

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2009

Among the challenges facing today's consumers at the grocery store is whether to buy organic or traditionally grown food, said a University of Illinois Extension nutrition and wellness educator in a web-based podcast (http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/podcasts/supermarket/).

"Organic refers to a method of farming that is environmentally friendly and is an alternative to conventional farming methods," said JoAn Todd. "The organic food industry has mushroomed into $14 billion in sales in 2005 with an annual growth rate somewhere between 15 and 21 percent a year.

"Organic food sales now account for about 1 percent of total supermarket sales and are predicted to increase."

Prices may be higher, she noted, because organic food is produced on a smaller scale, and may need to be milled or processed separately.

"There is also an increase in shipping costs from more centralized production in otherwise regional markets," she noted. "In the case of dairy and eggs, the animal's requirements, such as the number of animals that can be raised per acre or the breed of animal and its feed conversion ratio, affect the cost."

It is not necessarily true that all organic foods are more nutritious.

"Scientific research has not been abundant on organic foods," she said. "We are starting to see more research being published which compares traditionally grown foods with the organically grown. Ten new scientific studies have been published since March 2008.

"This new research is showing that, on the average, organic foods, when compared to conventionally grown foods, rate higher in nutrient content, especially vitamin and phytochemical content, and are lower in pesticide residues."

However, she added, the government has mandated safety tolerance levels on traditional foods.

"If you select organic foods, be sure to look for the certification as well as product label," she said. "Be sure that you understand what you are buying."

The bottom line for consumers is simple.

"Try to choose healthy foods for your family," she said. "Remember that organic has more to do with the way it is grown than the nutrients that the food provides."

Source: JoAn Todd, 815-395-5710