Are Organic Foods Safer or Healthier?
Authors: Kirsten Brandt
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2013)

Letters19 February 2013Are Organic Foods Safer or Healthier?Kirsten Brandt, PhDKirsten Brandt, PhDFrom Human Nutrition Research Centre, School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-158-4-201302190-00014 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Smith-Spangler and colleagues' meta-analysis (1) found significant differences for only 1 of 6 groups of secondary metabolites in plant foods (Table 1), which contrasts with the findings of a previously published meta-analysis that showed significant differences for 4 of 6 groups (2). Several aspects of the methodology used by Smith-Spangler and associates seem insufficiently justified or inconsistent, affecting the quality of the meta-analysis.Five issues require clarification. First, the meta-analysis method used is valid only if appropriate sample sizes are used for the calculations (1). Recognized standards for good practice (3) emphasize that “coding of data from ...References1. Smith-Spangler C, Brandeau ML, Hunter GE, Bavinger JC, Pearson M, Eschbach PJ, et al. Are organic foods safer or healthier than conventional alternatives?: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med. 2012;157:348-66. [PMID: 22944875] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Brandt K, Leifert C, Sanderson R, Seal CJ. Agroecosystem management and nutritional quality of plant foods: the case of organic fruits and vegetables. Crit Rev Plant Sci. 2011;30:177-97. CrossrefGoogle Scholar3. Stroup DF, Berlin JA, Morton SC, Olkin I, Williamson GD, Rennie D, et al. Meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology: a proposal for reporting. Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) group. JAMA. 2000;283:2008-12. [PMID: 10789670] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Seufert V, Ramankutty N, Foley JA. Comparing the yields of organic and conventional agriculture. Nature. 2012;485:229-32. [PMID: 22535250] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Kirsten Brandt, PhDAffiliations: From Human Nutrition Research Centre, School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.Disclosures: Grant (money to institution): Sheepdrove Charitable Trust (£11 250 in 2010); Soil Association (£1000 in 2007); Support for travel to meetings for the study or other purposes: American Society of Agronomy; Other: Other industry-related funding to Dr. Brandt's institution for her research (£145 197 since 2004) is for projects not related to organic food (for example, from Danone and Asda [part of WalMart]). Most of the author's public grant income is also not related to organic food. Dr. Brandt is the corresponding author on one of the cited articles (2). PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoAre Organic Foods Safer or Healthier Than Conventional Alternatives? Crystal Smith-Spangler , Margaret L. Brandeau , Grace E. Hunter , J. Clay Bavinger , Maren Pearson , Paul J. Eschbach , Vandana Sundaram , Hau Liu , Patricia Schirmer , Christopher Stave , Ingram Olkin , and Dena M. Bravata Are Organic Foods Safer or Healthier? Preston K. Andrews Are Organic Foods Safer or Healthier? Sari Lisa Davison Are Organic Foods Safer or Healthier? Charles Benbrook Are Organic Foods Safer or Healthier? Donald R. Davis Are Organic Foods Safer or Healthier? Crystal Smith-Spangler , Margaret L. Brandeau , Ingram Olkin , and Dena M. Bravata Metrics 19 February 2013Volume 158, Issue 4 Page: 295 Keywords Acids Food Metabolites ePublished: 19 February 2013 Issue Published: 19 February 2013 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2013 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...