From the February issue of “Consumer Reports” comes advice on buying organic: “Organic products, when buying organic pays (and doesn’t) 2/06″

Buy these items organic whenever possible:

  • Apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach, and strawberries.
  • Meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy.
  • Baby Food

Buy These Foods Organic When You Can Afford Them:

  • Asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet corn, kiwi, mangos, onions, papaya, pineapples, and sweet peas.
  • Breads, oils, potato chips, pasta, cereals, and other packaged foods, such as canned or dried fruit and vegetables.

Don’t Waste Your Money:

  • Cosmetics
  • Seafood.

Whether caught in the wild or farmed, fish can be labeled organic, despite the presence of contaminants such as mercury and PCBs. Some wild fish such as bluefish are very high in PCBs, and tuna and swordfish are laced with mercury. The USDA has not yet developed organic certification standards for seafood. In the meantime, producers are allowed to make their own organic claims as long as they don’t use “USDA” or “certified organic” logos. California, however, recently passed a law that prohibits the use of any organic labeling on fish and other seafood until either state or federal certification standards are established.

I hope this helps and I hope that “Consumer Reports” knows what they are talking about, as I am always totally confused about such things.