Nutrition FAQ

Sustainability: Food & the Environment

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• 1. Is organic food more nutritious than non-organic food?

  No. There is no difference in the amount or type of nutrients found in organic food compared to non-organic food¹.  Both provide you with the same nutrition. 

  In Canada, non-organic food must follow strict guidelines for pesticide use to ensure the food is safe for Canadians.  Certified organic food is grown using fewer synthetic pesticides.

  Your decision on whether to purchase organic food may be based on many things including budget (as organic foods often cost more) and where the product was grown.  If your interest is in purchasing local food, remember that "organic" does not mean that the product is "local" - in fact, a large part of Canada's organic products found in grocery stores come from the United States.

  ¹ "Nutrition-related health effects of organic foods: a systematic review" (May 2010). American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,92: 203-210. Dangour A, Lock K, Hayter, A, Aikenhead, A, Allen E, Uauy, R.

• 2. Is eating local always best?

  That depends.  If you can buy foods grown locally and in season, you know you're supporting local farmers, getting fresher products that are closer to ripeness when picked, and helping the environment by reducing the distance foods have to travel.

  But, depending on where you live, you may not be able to buy the types and amounts of local food year round you want and need to stay healthy.

  Bottom line: Buy locally and in season when you can, but balance cost, nutrition and variety to ensure you're getting the amount and types of food your body needs.

• 3. What can I do to choose foods that are better for the environment?

  We all have a role in reducing the environmental impact of our food choices. 

  • Buy amounts of food you know you will use, so you don't throw out as much. Learn how to store and preserve food, and find creative ways to use leftovers.
  • Pick nutritious, basic foods like vegetables and fruit, bread, milk, and fish that have less packaging. 
  • Select foods that are in season and are produced locally.
  • Buy foods with more nutrition in them (e.g. buy potatoes instead of potato chips) - this way there is a better balance between the energy that goes into producing the food and the nutrition you get out of it.
  • Plant your own garden - in your yard, on your balcony, or in a pot.

• 4. I heard that the milk industry has a large carbon footprint. Is this true?

  Recently, the Food and Agriculture Organization's report² found that only 2.7% of global greenhouse gases are a result of milk production, with North America having the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per kilogram of milk in the world. Farmers in Canada have made many changes to their practices over the past few decades, reducing green house gases by about 1% per year.

  ² "Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Dairy Sector - A Life Cycle Analysis" (2010). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

• 5. Are there growth hormones and antibiotics in milk?

  Canada has some of the most strict quality standards for milk in the world.

  Although allowed in the United States, the growth hormone rBST that increases milk production in cows is not permitted for sale in Canada.

  All milk in Canada is tested for antibiotic residue. If test results do not meet quality standards, the milk cannot be used and the offending producer faces stiff financial penalties.