FSA Will Not Promote Organic Milk

Archived

Wednesday, 20 September 2006

The Food Standards Agency has concluded an assessment of the evidence provided by the University of Glasgow, on the nutritional differences between organic and non-organic milk. The FSA has concluded that whilst this study shows that organically produced milk can contain higher levels of types of fats called short-chain omega-3 fatty acids than conventionally produced milk, the evidence suggests that these fatty acids appear to be of limited health benefit compared to the longer chain omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish.
However, Peter Melchett, Soil Association policy director, interviewed on Farming Today said: “The FSA has raised a ‘red herring’ by bringing up the issue of oily fish”. Peter goes on to say that it was not suggested by the scientists that organic milk was an alternative to oily fish. However, the study did show that there was a real nutritional difference between organic milk and non-organic milk. [The FSA report states that organic milk ‘can contain higher levels of types of fats called short-chain omega-3 fatty acids than conventionally produced milk’.]
Alison Tedstone, FSA spokesperson, is also interviewed. She talks about short and long chain omega-3 fatty acids. She states that the FSA are open to new evidence and will keep their position under review. In answer to Mark Holdstock Alison denies that there is a cultural bias against organic food in the FSA.
Source: www.soilassociation.org