Too much calcium

[BDutch]

It seems they started a new experiment
14 years later, new research.
This time not with chickens but with pigs.
https://www.bnnvara.nl/zembla/artik...iert-nieuw-onderzoek-naar-biologische-voeding

After the Zembla broadcast, the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality commissioned Wageningen University to conduct a new literature study into the health effects of organic food. WUR concluded that it would be sensible to start a trial with pigs that were fed organically or non-organically. Exactly the recommendation that was made at the time for the chicken experiment.

The ministry is now following up on that advice by making half a million euros available for research. The ministry expects to receive a proposal for the design and implementation of the research from WUR, the project leader, shortly. If the ministry agrees, the subsidy can be officially applied for.
Huber previously told Zembla: “I have always said: more research is needed, because there are positive indications, that is how it works in science. So it was very frustrating that nothing got going after that.”

Read more on the site from the university ;
https://www.wur.nl/nl/onderzoek-res...fecten-van-biologische-voeding-op-varkens.htm

The research is being conducted with pigs, because the pig is a model animal close to humans. The research started in June 2024 and the results are expected to be known in early 2026.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Do you want to eat vegetables that are not sprayed, do you want to drink milk from cows that have been able to graze in the meadow, do you fancy honest chicken? Then you buy organic products. Moreover, organic farming is also good for the environment, because it is better for the soil and biodiversity. Many consumers also choose organic because they think it is healthier. But there has been a lot of discussion about this for years.

Oh, the horror /sarcasm.

ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL, yes, I'd prefer not to add things I don't need or want. But all things ARE NOT equal.

At least on this side of the pond, not only is organic substantially more expensive (for a host of reasons, not all of which have anything to do with food safety), but if you look at feed labels - and as my BYC should demonstrate, I've looked at a LOT of them - organic feeds are pretty uniformly subpar nutritionally. Are the benefits of trace amounts of X, Y, Z not being present n my food and/or not being used in the soil where my food (or my chicken's food) is produced of greater benefit (to me, my birds) than the detriment of offering a nutritionally sub par feed??? That's a risk benefit analysis different for every person, based on age, health, transient medical conditions (like pregnancy), and a host of other perfectly reasonable, but individual, considerations.

On both sides of the pond, the soil used for raising "organic" labeled agricultural products can be just short a superfund site, and still qualify for Organic labelling. Whether that be dioxins, or heavy metals, or chemical wastes from runoff of past heavy industry? Doesn't matter. Still "Organic". Netherlannds, for instance, has "Organic" produce being grown with high dioxin and aluminum levels in some locations. Parts of our Pennsylvania, similar - and for similar reasons.

Now, as it happens, I don't spray chemicals all over the fields where my animals free range. Not because I'm reflexively averse to their use, but because I don't need them to achieve the productivity I find acceptable. DO I use it when needed? Yes, I just put down 800# of lime (use OK for organics) and 150# of fertilizer this year (needed to bring middle number [Phosphorus] up in my soil to help establish new seed). DO I do it spring and fall? No - I got my soil tested first, shouldn't need commercial fertilizer again for years, I hope.

Free ranging itself involves risks - (Netherlands Organic study comparing kept and free range birds) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4494376/

another (comparing Netherlands and Switzerland) https://orgprints.org/id/eprint/8014/1/060403_Paper_health_and_welfare_poultry_DK_definite.pdf (more parasitic infestations, higher mortality, more feather picking - and compared to conventional, less Salmonella, more Campylobacter.)

Biorisk assessment - https://biorisk.pensoft.net/article/77398/

A more Organic positive study, still observing subpar development in organically fed birds (not surprising, Methionine levels were consistently lower in the Organic feeds) - https://publications.tno.nl/publication/34606739/3q8EfA/huber-2010-effects.pdf

etc. That should get you started.

 

[BDutch]

On both sides of the pond, the soil used for raising "organic" labeled agricultural products can be just short a superfund site, and still qualify for Organic labelling. Whether that be dioxins, or heavy metals, or chemical wastes from runoff of past heavy industry? Doesn't matter. Still "Organic".

I can’t find any info about heavy metals in the soil and organic within Europe. I know the organisation (for the official green EU label with 12 stars) test the crops/vegetables every year throughout the food chain.

Thanks for the links. I look into it later if its doable for me to read them. In general the English scientific reports are too complicated for me to fully understand bc my English skills are limited.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

https://www.rivm.nl/bibliotheek/rapporten/2014-0001.pdf

Should be available in your native language (things have improved greatly re: dioxins). Many props to you, and anyone, who can function at all in more than one language. For all my other gifts, I've nearly failed out of three foreign languages and somedays struggle to communicate in my native English. Much respect.