Wall Street Journal’s view on buying organic

I had a friend, Justin, forward me this article from today’s Wall Street Journal on buying organic food. It’s very similar to what I have read in the past from Consumer Reports and other consumer groups. Below is a set of buying guidelines the article recommends.

To buy…

• Apples, peaches, bell peppers, strawberries, imported grapes, spinach, lettuce, potatoes, carrots:
• Conventional versions have higher levels of pesticides than other produce, although still well within safe limits.
• Milk and dairy products: Free of the growth hormones that are given to conventionally raised cows.
• Meat and poultry: Free of growth hormones and antibiotics. Baby food: Free of pesticide residues found in vegetables and fruits.…
• and foods you eat a lot of.

Or not to buy…

• Broccoli, bananas, frozen sweet peas, frozen corn, asparagus, avocados, onions: Levels of pesticides are low even in conventional versions of these.
• Seafood: No USDA organic certification yet exists for seafood. Even seafood raised in the wild can contain mercury, PCBS and other contaminants.
• Some processed foods such as breads, chips, pasta, oils: They often do have whole grains or other healthful ingredients, but processed foods may also contain non-organic ingredients, and processing in general removes many nutrients
• and foods you eat only occasionally.

Source: When Buying Organic MakesSense — and When It Doesn’t, BETSY MCKAY, January 16, 2007