Garden birds prefer non-organic food to organic

Garden birds prefer non-organic food to organic, study finds

The nutritional benefits of organic foods have been called into question by some very discerning diners – wild garden birds trying to survive the winter.

By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent

Published: 2:10PM BST 18 May 2010

Grain of truth: even when the grain in the feeders were switched around, the birds soon were able to spot the difference

British researchers found that birds such as robins and house sparrows “instinctively” preferred non-organic seeds to the more naturally grown varieties as it appeared to provide them with greater nutritional value through the cold months.

When offered both varieties of wheat seed, they were able to discern between the two and ate up to 20 per cent more of the conventional grown variety than the organic…

…A spokesman for the Soil Association said: “The UK Government’s own advisors found that bird life is up to 50% greater on organic farms showing that most birds do choose organic. Animals like chimpanzees and even rats have been shown to prefer organic food. This study has absolutely no bearing on whether organic food is better for human health or not.”

Pundit’s thoughts:

The peer reviewed version in Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture is yet to come on line, so we have to treat this report skeptically for the moment….

But the Telegraph item is an example of how the press react when fed on organic chaff for an extended period.

And as far as the Soil Association’s remarks “that bird life is up to 50% greater on organic farms”, there is this to contradict their claim.