“Carrots are lower risk than other types of produce, but you should still buy organic.”

What’s the difference between organic and non-organic foods? The difference between organic and non-organic (conventional) food has to do with how food is produced. For example, organic food like vegetables, fruit, eggs, milk and meat is produced without: Synthetic (human-made) pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers.

Consider buying organic versions of these fruits and vegetables:

• Strawberries.
• Apples.
• Nectarines.
• Peaches.
• Celery.
• Grapes.
• Cherries.
• Spinach.

Produce can be called organic if it’s certified to have grown on soil that had no prohibited substances applied for three years prior to harvest. Prohibited substances include most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

Avocados are one of the safest fruits to buy non-organic because their thick outer skin prevents pesticides from touching the edible fruit.

Cucumbers Regular cucumbers are in the top 10 for having high pesticide usage. They also may have synthetic waxes on the skin (to preserve moisture) that contain a number of pesticides. It is best to buy organic for this reason.

Citrus fruits. The thick peel of oranges, lemons, and limes means that most of the pesticides stay on the outside of these fruits instead of making their way into the flesh. So you may want to seek out organic citrus fruits, Pappa says.

Disadvantage: The Cost Factor These include genetically modified organisms, conventional pesticides, herbicides, petroleum-based and sewage-sludge-based fertilizers, antibiotics, growth hormones and irradiation. For many consumers of organic food, the mandated absence of these practices is worth the extra cost.

List of Cons of Organic Food

• Easily Goes Bad. Compared to non-organic food, organic produce has the possibility of going off a lot quicker.
• More Expensive.
• Minimal Chemicals Allowed.
• No Health Benefits.
• No Nutritional Proof.
• Even Low-Level Pesticides Can be Harmful.
• Pesticide Contamination.
• High Bacterial Levels.

“There is no evidence that organic foods are healthier than conventional foods and some evidence, in fact, that organic foods could provide greater risks from microbiological contamination [i.e., bacteria and viruses] and naturally-occurring toxins,” Winter said.

Top 10 Organic Food Pros & Cons – Summary List

Organic foods are grown without artificial pesticides, fertilizers, or herbicides. Organic meat, eggs, and dairy products are obtained from animals that are fed natural feed and not given hormones or antibiotics. Natural foods are free of synthetic or artificial ingredients or additives.

Results showed that participants rated organic foods to be both healthier and safer than any other label category. Therefore, when it comes to distinguishing the difference between natural vs organic in terms of health, organic products are typically healthier than something simply deemed as “all-natural.”

An “organic” label guarantees no exposure to toxic synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or chemical NPK fertilizers. It also constitutes no antibiotics and no growth hormones. And it’s not just the soil that has to meet rigorous requirements and tests in order to qualify for “organic” certification.

Natural: “Legally, this means nothing—it’s a completely unregulated term and should be thought of as pure marketing,” says Grigore. Non-Toxic: “This is a newer designation, also mostly marketing,” says Grigore.

“Plant-based” means roughly the same thing — the ingredients are botanical — but it’s important to remember that just because something is plant-based or synthetic-free does not mean it’s organic, and vice-versa. If you want to your products to be uber-clean, make sure all the right boxes are checked.

According to the American Society for Nutrition, any “foods containing natural flavors, sweeteners, or other plant-derived substances can be labeled natural” regardless if it is laden with pesticides or not. By law, organic foods cannot be grown with pesticides, but there are no laws in place for “natural.”

All Natural: The USDA does not define foods labeled “all natural” as any differnt than those labeled “natural.” Foods with this labeling are probably not any different than “natural” foods and may not be regulated as they are not defined by the USDA.

Organic foods are usually good for the environment. But they’re often hard on your wallet: The USDA found the costs of organic fruits and vegetables typically run more than 20% higher than conventional produce. Sometimes the difference is much higher, especially for things like organic milk and eggs.