Below is a study published in Permaculture International Journal
(March-May 2000, No. 74, ISSN 1037-8480), p.27:
Food with Attitude
An analysis of vegetable produce commissioned by the Organic
Retailers and Growers Association of Australia (ORGAA) showed that
organic produce, grown on minerally enriched and biologically
revitalized soil, was generally 10 times higher in nutritional
elements than supermarket samples.
The Australian Government Analytical Laboratory compared nutrient
value (mg/kg) of beans, tomatoes, capsicum and silver beet purchased
in the supermarket to those from organic sources. (See tables.)
According to ORGAA spokesman, Chris Alenson, who supervised the
study, the results demonstrated that consumers may not be getting the
nutritional benefits they expect from the food they buy.
"Recent samples say kids are only eating 30% of the required
daily intake of fruit and vegetables - could the reason be taste?"
asked Alenson, who queried the long term health effects of low mineral
intake.
"National nutritional surveys [in Australia] indicate a move
towards increased reliance on fast foods and snacks high in fat and
low in fibre. Nutritionists are unanimous that adequate consumption of
fresh fruit and vegetables is vital in disease prevention and health
maintenance," he said.
"The problem for consumers is that fruit and vegetables produced
by 'high tech' agricultural systems, fed by synthetic fertilizers,
exposed to pesticides and fungicides, may not be delivering the
nutritional benefits that consumers believe they may be receiving."
He says further research is needed into the nutritional value of
our food supply.
The results, in a colourful brochure on how to grow nutritionally
rich vegetables, are available from ORGAA - call (+61) 3 9737 9799.
Table: mg per kg of supermarket/organic produce
-------- Beans Tomatoes Capsicum Silver Beet
Calcium 40/480 6.7/67 4.7/84 65/1600
Potassium 260/1900 200/300 150/1600 450/2600
Magnesium 26/240 10/89 11/700 69/1700
Sodium <1/<10 2.4/26 <1/20 180/1800
Iron 0.6/<5 <0.5/<5 0.5/<5 1.4/9.4
Zinc .38/3.4 0.19/1.2 0.13/2.5 0.57/130
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