As you begin the complementary feeding adventure, you may have some questions about what foods you should feed your little one, and in particular about whether or not you should choose organic. In this section, we will get to the bottom of the organic versus conventional foods debate, and discover if it really is worth buying organic.
Any food—fruit, vegetable, meat, poultry, egg or dairy product—that has been grown with or exposed to pesticides is considered a conventional food. Conventional growers use pesticides to prevent disease and insects, and promote better-looking, longer-lasting crops.
Conventional foods are the most common type available; it’s what you can expect from your favorite restaurants and food products, unless otherwise labeled. Conventional growers are allowed to use chemical pesticides, antibiotics, chemical fertilizers, sewage sludge, ionizing radiation, and growth hormones, among other farming methods. Conventional foods may also include hotly contested genetically-engineered or modified (GMO) ingredients.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), foods that are grown without the use of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or genetically modified organisms are considered organic. Animals, such as chickens, cattle, and pigs must be fed certified organic feed, and not given antibiotics or growth hormones.12
You can tell if a food is organic or not by its label. Usually you’ll find a special sticker or label on organic food, such as “100% organic,” meaning it’s made entirely with organic ingredients, or “organic,” meaning it’s made with at least 95% organic ingredients. Some grocery stores make it easier for the organic shopper to find what they need by setting aside small sections of the store strictly for organic foods.
Even though the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets safety limits on the amount of pesticides allowed in food, some experts suggest limiting your exposure as much as possible.13
Most research on the effects of pesticides on the body has been done with people who work with pesticides regularly, like conventional farmworkers. Studies have found that exposure to pesticides can cause all sorts of long-term health problems, such as asthma, autism, developmental disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, nervous disorders, reproductive disorders, as well as brain, breast, and prostate cancers.14
Babies are particularly vulnerable to the potential health effects from pesticides because their organs and body systems are not fully developed. Pesticides stay in their bodies longer because they aren’t able to metabolize and flush them out of their systems like adults.15 They can even ingest pesticides through breast milk.16 Since babies consume more food and liquid (compared to their body weights) than adults, there may be an elevated impact on babies.
Research has found that pesticide exposure can increase health problems for babies into toddlerhood and beyond. One study found that boys 8–15 years old were twice as likely to develop ADHD when they were exposed to a common household pesticide.17 Three other studies found that pesticides may increase the risk for developmental delays and autism among kids by as much as 25%.18 Another study found that children scored lower on IQ tests when their mothers had high levels of pesticides in their bodies during pregnancy.19
Though the research on the effects of eating food treated with pesticides is lacking, what we can draw from other research is that pesticide exposure can have a big impact on the development of our little ones, and on our overall health.
Some pesticides are absorbed into food, such as in fruits and vegetables, whereas others remain on the surface. For some produce, like potatoes and carrots, you can simply peel or wash them and instantly reduce your exposure to pesticides. For many foods, however, the pesticides cannot be easily removed.
One obvious way to lessen the amount of pesticides in your diet is to choose organic food whenever possible. In a Consumer Reports study that tested pesticides in a variety of organic and conventional fruits and vegetables, organic produce was found to have significantly less pesticides.20 Another study by the University of Washington School of Public Health found that people who ate organic diets had significantly less pesticides in their bodies than those who ate conventional foods. Another study found that people who ate mostly organic foods had 89% less pesticide residue in their bodies.21 Organic food contains less pesticides than conventional foods, and for some, that’s enough to believe it’s the healthier, safer food option.
Every year the Environmental Working Group comes out with a list of the fruits and vegetables that tend to have the highest and lowest exposures to pesticides. Snap a picture of this list with your phone so you have it with you at the grocery store, or download the EWG’s Dirty Dozen smartphone app.22
apples
peaches and nectarines
strawberries
grapes
celery
spinach
cucumbers
tomatoes
snap peas
potatoes
avocados
sweet corn
pineapples
papayas
mangos
kiwifruits
onions
asparagus
cantaloupe
cauliflower
The best nutrition you can give your family is a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins, regardless of whether or not they are organic or conventional. Though there is little evidence that organic food is more nutritious, eating organic can help your family create a healthier lifestyle and lessen your exposure to disease-causing pesticides.
If you haven’t been choosing organic, don’t panic! There is evidence that young kids can detoxify quickly from harmful chemicals. A 2006 study found that when children switched to an organic diet, the levels of pesticides in their bodies dropped so significantly that they were no longer detectable.23
So if you don’t already buy organic foods, you may want to start. Even small changes, like choosing just a handful of organically grown produce every time you shop, can help to protect your family from pesticides. And if you can, start your baby on organic foods from the beginning.
Organic food does tend to be more expensive than conventional food. To save money, try these tips: