Organic foods are not as tasty nor as healthy as those grown using pesticides, according to surprising new research results from the consumer champion Which?
A two-year study focusing on three crops – potatoes, calabrese and tomatoes – concluded there was little benefit in growing them organically.
Laboratory tests found the non-organic calabrese had a significantly higher level of antioxidants, while non-organic potatoes contained more vitamin C than the organic crop.
And a panel of expert tasters found the non-organically grown tomatoes had a stronger tomato flavour and were slightly sweeter.
Which? Gardening editor Ceri Thomas said: "The surprising results of this small-scale trial call into question a lot of preconceptions about the taste and nutritional value of organic vegetables.
"Whatever methods you use, any gardener will tell you that home-grown fruit and veg beat supermarket fare hands down."
But Emma Hockridge, head of policy at the Soil Association, said the study was extremely narrow and unscientific.
She said the main reason people chose to grow organically was to avoid using chemical pesticides and artificial fertilisers, thus helping the environment.
'It is a much wider issue than just taste and health,' she added.
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What do you think? Do you buy organic? Do you think it's worth the extra price?
Would this report change your shopping habits?