As far as understanding the benefits of eating organic foods are concerned, we first need an awareness of the facts surrounding conventional produce of a non-organic nature as well as the way in which pesticides are used in certain foods.

In order to this, we can begin by taking a look at the highly respected and influential campaigner against the use of pesticides, Pan UK.

The results of their thorough research show us that:

• Each year, an enormous amount of pesticide (31 billion tonnes) is sprayed on land within the UK
• Chronic illnesses such as cancer as well as reproductive and neurologically related health issues are often a result of long term or regular exposure to pesticides
• It is reported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that 772,000 new cases of disease caused by pesticides occur each year
• There are 150 pesticides which have been identified as potential cancer causes by USEPA, the United States Environmental Protection Agency

People who work on farms along with others who are involved with the use of pesticides are directly exposed to the associated dangers and as Pan UK tell us, the plantation workers in Costa Rica (from where of a high proportion of fruit is exported to the UK) verify that this is the case.

…Local farmers complain of respiratory problems, allergies and serious chronic dermatitis. Local communities have seen their cattle lose their hair and their unborn calves after eating contaminated pasture. They’re concerned that they are drinking and washing in water affected by the same chemicals.

Of course, we all need chemical substances that are left naturally, but problems arise when we begin to mix chemicals in order to carry out particular actions as in the case of pesticide production and use.  The results are definitely not good.

Intensive farming uses pesticides which contain many thousands of hidden chemicals.  This not only puts our personal wellbeing at risk but also has a significant negative effect on the healthy state of the environment in which we live.

Known as ‘inerts’ many of the toxic chemicals react with each other, for example, DDT and Dioxin.  This creates a magnified toxicity.