Organic Food: Buying More Safety or Just Peace of Mind? A Critical Review of the Literature

Magkos, Faidon; Arvaniti, Fotini; Zampelas, Antonis

doi:10.1080/10408690490911846

Cited by 294 publications

(205 citation statements)

References 271 publications

(284 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

190

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Certain studies have scientifically proven the benefits of organic products regarding lower content in synthetic agrochemicals (Poulsen & Andersen, 2003;Andersen, & Poulsen, 2001), nitrate and nitrite (De Martin & Restani, 2003), and drug residues (Cabaret, Mage, & Bouilhol, 2002;Carstensen, Vaarts, & Roepstorff, 2002), however a lack of differentiation in metal elements has also been demonstrated (Magkos, Arvaniti, & Zampelas, 2006). Thus, the organically produced vegetables exhibited no significant differences in relation to the levels of heavy metals from conventional production (Ghidini et al, 2005;Woese, Lange, Boess, & Werner-Bögl, 1997).…”

Section: Influence Of Cereal Production Methods On Lead and Cadmium Comentioning

confidence: 91%

Estimation of dietary intake and content of lead and cadmium in infant cereals marketed in Spain

Hernández-Martínez

Navarro-Blasco

2012

Food Control

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:Lead and cadmium have become highly toxic metallic elements. There is an obvious toxicological impact of these elements on infants since their intestinal absorption is significantly higher than in adults, thus it is desirable to quantify lead and cadmium levels in commonly consumed infant foods. Zeeman background correction, transversely heated graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, was used to determine both the lead and cadmium content of 91 Spanish infant cereals. Cereals were assessed in terms of different types, cereal predominant in formulation and whether it was obtained organically or conventionally. Preliminary analysis revealed a noticeably higher content of lead and cadmium (median, Q1-Q3) in organic cereals (n = 17, Pb: 26.07; Cd: 18.52;.50 µg kg -1 ) in relation to conventional ones (n =74, Pb: 10.78; Cd: 7.12;.77 µg kg -1 ). Three formulations exceeded European lead maximum levels. Added ingredients (milk, cocoa, fruit and honey) to the cereal base provide lead enrichment. For cadmium, this pattern was observed by cereal based on cocoa, but also the raw materials contributed with a dilution phenomenon, decreasing the final cadmium concentration in infant cereal. Apart from several organically produced cereals, lead content showed a narrow variation, where gluten-free cereals provide lower cadmium content than formulations containing gluten. Dietary intakes of both elements were assessed in comparison with the reference intake values proposed by the EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain. Organic infant cereals based on honey and cocoa supplied the highest risk intakes of lead and cadmium, respectively. In accordance with the actual state of knowledge on lead and cadmium toxicity and attending to the upper limits calculated from risk intake values set by EFSA, it seems prudent to call for a revision of both heavy metals content regulated by EC to set a maximum guideline values for infant cereal at 55 and 45 µg kg -1 , respectively.

show abstract

Section: Influence Of Cereal Production Methods On Lead and Cadmium Comentioning

confidence: 91%

Estimation of dietary intake and content of lead and cadmium in infant cereals marketed in Spain

Hernández-Martínez

Navarro-Blasco

2012

Food Control

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It is possible, but not proven that the over use of these agrochemicals and hormones may contribute to the development of CKD-mfo. In view of this, precautions and preventative actions need to be taken immediately to minimise the harm to farmers, fauna, flora, and the environment, and to protect consumers [95][96][97][98].…”

Section: Effects Of Harmful Agricultural and Irrigation Practicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Escalating chronic kidney diseases of multi-factorial origin in Sri Lanka: causes, solutions, and recommendations

Wimalawansa

2014

Environ Health Prev Med

123

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

During the last two decades, Sri Lanka, located close to the equator, has experienced an escalating incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) of unknown aetiology (CKDue) in dry zonal areas. Similar incidences of unusual CKDs have been reported in the dry zonal, agricultural areas of several other equatorial countries. In Sri Lanka, the incidence of CKDue is highest in the North Central Province (NCP), where approximately 45 % of the country's paddy fields are located. However, in recent years, the disease has spread into areas adjacent to as well as distant from the NCP. The cause of CKD in Sri Lanka is unknown, and may likely due to interactions of different potential agents; thus, CKD is of multi-factorial origin (CKD-mfo). These factors include, the negative effects from overuse of agrochemicals. Nevertheless, the potential interactions and synergism between probable agents have not been studied. This systematic review discusses the proposed hypotheses and causes of CKD-mfo in Sri Lanka, and ways to decrease the incidence of this disease and to eradicate it, and provide some recommendations. During the past decade, a number of groups have investigated this disorder using different methodologies and reported various correlations, but failed to find a cause. Research has focussed on the contamination of water with heavy metals, agrochemicals, hard water, algae, ionicity, climate change, and so forth. Nevertheless, the levels of any of the pollutants or conditions reported in water in NPC are inconsistent not correlated with the prevalence of the disease, and are too low to be the sole cause of CKD-mfo. Meanwhile, several nephrotoxins prevalent in the region, including medications, leptospirosis, toxic herbs, illicit alcohol, locally grown tobacco, and petrochemicals, as well as the effects of changed habits occured over the past four decades have not been studied to date. Taken together, the geographical distribution and overall findings indicate that combinations of factors and/or their interactions are likely to precipitate CKD-mfo, which kills more than 5,000 people annually in Sri Lanka; most victims are middleaged male farmers. Much anecdotal evidence from this region suggests that consumption of contaminated water is the most likely source of this deadly disease. Although the aetiology is unknown, prevention of this ''environmentally acquired'' disease seems relatively straightforward. Solutions include (a) preventing environmental pollution, (b) stopping the irresponsible use and decreasing the usage of agrochemicals, and encouraging the use of environmentally friendly agricultural methods, (c) taking proper precautions when using agrochemicals and safe disposal of their containers, (d) changing the risky behaviour of farmers and educating them to preserve the environment, and (e) providing clean potable water to all affected regions. Implementing a well-coordinated, in-depth, region-wide, broad-based research study together with a long-term effective surveillance programme across the country i...

show abstract

“…However, in organic farming it is preferable to make use of organic wastes & compost in the kind of fertilizers, which may finish up in increasing the nutrients supplied to the plants (Frieben & Köpke, 1995). Undertaking this study will help to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the organic farming sector, which will help policy-makers, organic farming associations and organic producers in general to design appropriate policy measures and programmes with view of ISSN 2166-0379 2014 uplifting and improving the competitiveness of the organic farming sector Magkos et al 2006). Judging from the significance of vegetables (beetroot, cabbage, carrot, pepper, spinach and tomato) in the daily diet of the average household in South Africa (Niemeyer & Lombard.…”

Section: Importance Of Organic Farmingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resource Use Efficiency in Organic Vegetable Production: A Case Study of Manzini Region, Swaziland

Kongolo

2014

JAS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study investigated the efficient use of resources in the production of organic vegetables, namely: beetroot, cabbage, carrot, pepper, spinach and tomatoes. The findings indicated that land, labour, organic manure, seeds, soil preparation, age; children, education level and farm legal entity all had significant effect in organic vegetables production in the region. The use of inputs in the production of the vegetables showed increasing returns to scale. As a result of this, the study suggested that in order for farmers to produce efficiently; all inputs that were significant in the production of the vegetables needed to be doubled in order to double the output.

show abstract

Organic Food: Buying More Safety or Just Peace of Mind? A Critical Review of the Literature

Abstract: Consumer concern over the quality and safety of conventional food has intensified in recent years

Cited by 294 publications

References 271 publications

Estimation of dietary intake and content of lead and cadmium in infant cereals marketed in Spain

Estimation of dietary intake and content of lead and cadmium in infant cereals marketed in Spain

Escalating chronic kidney diseases of multi-factorial origin in Sri Lanka: causes, solutions, and recommendations

Resource Use Efficiency in Organic Vegetable Production: A Case Study of Manzini Region, Swaziland

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About