Nursery World - In my view: Eating organic is good for you

Last year, sales of organic baby foods in the UK increased by 7 per cent and sales of organic finger foods, including rice cakes, rusks and biscuits, leapt up 48 per cent.

Organic food is packed with nutrients and it doesn't contain additives and chemicals. A baby's nervous, circulatory, and reproductive systems are all developing, so it's vital that alien chemicals don't disrupt them. Immature kidneys are not as proficient at getting rid of harmful substances, which may remain in the body for longer.

A baby's diet is often restricted to a few types of less processed food, such as apples, potatoes and carrots, which may have been treated with pesticides. While the EU has set maximum levels for individual chemicals in infant formula and baby foods, this doesn't take into account the cocktail effect of many pesticides. No-one knows what an 'acceptable' daily intake of toxic chemicals is. The best way to reduce exposure to potentially harmful pesticides is to eat organic food.

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