Defining organic consumers

Pesticides used in conventional farming pose many potential health risks. Organic farming practices and certifying bodies largely prohibit the use of pesticides and data from residue surveys confirm that organic produce has lower pesticide residues than conventional produce. This suggests that that organic food consumption should result in reduced human pesticide exposure, yet only a few published biomonitoring studies on children have examined this link and there are no standards for distinguishing an ¿organic consumer? from a ¿conventional consumer?. The purpose of this study was to develop instruments to distinguish ¿organic consumers? from ¿conventional consumers? and inform the design of rigorous biomonitoring trials aiming to assess the impact of organic food consumption on pesticide exposure in adults. The ¿Organic Food Intake Survey? (OFIS) and the ¿Organic Consumption Survey? (OCS) were designed to quantify ¿organic? status and identify prospective participants for biomonitoring studies. It is anticipated that this will ensure that results from biomonitoring trials will be robust and relevant to consumers wanting to reduce their exposure to pesticides.