Consumers' faith in organic as total-health solution raises expectations to fulfill claims never made

Organic food alone can’t and wasn’t meant to solve our litany of dietary problems. Americans need to start with a shift to whole foods, fewer processed and junk foods, and fewer animal products, says Times columnist Mark Bittman, which is not to say organic isn’t important. It’s just that people tend to confuse its environmental and health benefits with miraculous total-health makeovers.

Plus, sustainability will also flow from more conscientious food choices. “From these changes [cutting back on meat and processed foods], Americans would reduce the amount of land, water and chemicals used to produce the food we eat, as well as the incidence of lifestyle diseases linked to unhealthy diets, and greenhouse gases from industrial meat production. All without legislation,” claims Bittman. Full story: New York Times