Doubts over health benefit of organic food

IRISH consumers spent €66 million on organic food in 2006 according to figures revealed yesterday, but scientists are warning that it could be a waste of money.

Spending on organic produce has almost doubled from €38m in 2003 and is expected to grow to around €400m over the next five years, a conference in Dublin heard yesterday.

The open meeting, Organic Food: Fact or Fiction?, organised by the Food Safety Authority (FSA) heard that almost half of Irish people eat organic, but 54% of the population believe it is too expensive.