Contaminants and micro-organisms in organic and conventional food products

In the Netherlands we investigated animal and plant products on potentially hazardous contamination with heavy metals, mycotoxins, pesticide residues, patho-genic micro-organisms and nitrate. In most cases, the organically produced foods had equal or lower amounts of contaminants than conventionally pro-duced products. These results conflict with a common idea that organic farming theoretically increases food safety risks. For many contaminants organic food showed a large diversity in the amount of contamina-tion. Experience with organic farming, managing and manure use partly explain these differences. Understanding of these cultivation parameters can help in further improvement of organic cultivation practices

Antibiotica in grond en water : via plant weer in mens en dier

Residuen van antibiotica en resistente bacteriën zijn niet alleen rechtstreeks een risico voor mens en dier, maar kunnen ook via de grond en het oppervlaktewater in planten terechtkomen. Zo kunnen ze indirect ook een risico vormen voor mens en dier. Dit spoor in de voedselketen is in de discussie over het gebruik van antibiotica en de gevolgen hiervan tot nu toe onderbelicht. Bij het Louis Bolk Instituut is een project gestart, waarin de verschillende sporen van overdracht in de voedselketen in kaart gebracht worden en waarin nog aanwezige hiaten in de kennis opgespoord en mogelijk gedicht kunnen worden

Antibiotica in grond en water : via plant weer in mens en dier

Residuen van antibiotica en resistente bacteriën zijn niet alleen rechtstreeks een risico voor mens en dier, maar kunnen ook via de grond en het oppervlaktewater in planten terechtkomen. Zo kunnen ze indirect ook een risico vormen voor mens en dier. Dit spoor in de voedselketen is in de discussie over het gebruik van antibiotica en de gevolgen hiervan tot nu toe onderbelicht. Bij het Louis Bolk Instituut is een project gestart, waarin de verschillende sporen van overdracht in de voedselketen in kaart gebracht worden en waarin nog aanwezige hiaten in de kennis opgespoord en mogelijk gedicht kunnen worden

Effects of organically and conventionally produced feed on biomarkers of health in a chicken model

Consumers expect organic products to be healthier. However, limited research has been performed to study the effect of organic food on health. The present study aimed to identify biomarkers of health to enable future studies in human subjects. A feeding experiment was performed in two generations of three groups of chickens differing in immune responsiveness, which were fed identically composed feeds from either organic or conventional produce. The animals of the second generation were exposed to an immune challenge and sacrificed at 13 weeks of age. Feed and ingredients were analysed on macro-and micronutrients, i.e. vitamins, minerals, trace elements, heavy metals and microbes. The chickens were studied by general health and immune parameters, metabolomics, genomics and post-mortem evaluation. The organic and conventional feeds were comparable with respect to metabolisable energy. On average, the conventionally produced feeds had a 10% higher protein content and some differences in micronutrients were observed. Although animals on both feeds were healthy, differences between the groups were found. The random control group of chickens fed conventional feed showed overall a higher weight gain during life span than the group on organic feed, although feed intake was mostly comparable. The animals on organic feed showed an enhanced immune reactivity, a stronger reaction to the immune challenge as well as a slightly stronger catch-up growth after the challenge. Biomarkers for future research were identified in the parameters feed intake, body weight and growth rate, and in immunological, physiological and metabolic parameters, several of these differing most pronounced after the challenge. © 2010 The Author