Is organic food safer to eat than conventional food?

All food in the United States must meet the same safety standards regardless of how it's grown. But there are differences between organic and conventionally grown food.

Organic food exposes people to less pesticide residue than does conventionally grown food.

Unlike conventional foods, food labeled as organic can't be treated with radiation, a process called irradiation. When food is treated in this way, rays pass through the food, like sun passing through a window.

Irradiation is done to kill bacteria and pests and to keep food from spoiling too quickly. In the U.S., certain foods, such as poultry, eggs in shells, spices, and fresh fruits and vegetables, may be treated with radiation.

Both organic and conventionally grown food can be contaminated with bacteria, especially E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella typhimurium.

Organic or not, food can be made safer in several ways.