Is organic food better for you? Here's the truth about the benefits

IT STARTED with a leaflet on my doormat. In big, bold letters, a vegetable box delivery scheme proclaimed: “Did you know? Switching to organic is the same as adding 2 portions to your 5-A-Day.” Later, at my local health food store, a panel above an organic vegetable display announced that scientific studies had shown this produce was measurably more nutritious than conventional varieties.

This assertion has been echoed by dozens of newspaper headlines, radio news pieces and, of course, campaign group websites. If you are an avid follower of the foodie media, it can seem like exciting new studies come…