The Organic food market in Europe grew by an average of 25% each year between 1990 and 2000 to a turnover of around �6 billion in April 2000. The growth in the United Kingdom has been especially strong with a five fold increase in the last five years. (i)

Long before the current trend Holland & Barrett were selling organic foods to discerning consumers who cared about their health and the quality of their food. So just what is so special about going organic?

An organic product is one which has been produced using a more sustainable farming system resulting in healthy crops or livestock whilst at the same time minimising the damage done to the environment. You are guaranteed that the product has been grown without the use of artificial chemical fertilisers and pesticides or use of drugs such as antibiotics. A controversial point of debate is whether organic food is actually better for us, but plenty of studies clearly indicate that they may have benefits to our health. By definition they have lower levels of pesticides, drug residues and nitrates and the Food Standards Agency recommend these should be kept as low as possible. (ii)

Organic food can also contain more nutrients than ordinary foods, research conducted as long ago as the 1970�s highlights this benefit, studies from Germany and America found organic foods to have higher levels of many nutrients. The American research showed mineral increases as much as 75% for calcium, iron, potassium and zinc. (iii) (iv)

Nowadays the selection of organic foods is extensive, Holland & Barrett�s product range includes anything from dried fruits and nuts to herbal teas and baked beans. There�s even a selection of own label honey which has to be sourced from remote areas of the world such as New Zealand to be able to guarantee its organic status. The latest addition to the Holland & Barrett own label organic range is the exotic breakfast muesli, Tropical, which blend nutritional high fibre cereals with succulent fruits and nuts. Pumpkin and Sunflower Seeds have also been recommended by Dr Gillian McKeith. Then there is Optimum Oil Blend, nutritional oil that provides a balance of the important essential fatty acids needed by the body.

Each of these and the other products in the Holland & Barrett own label organic range carry the seal of approval from either the Soil Association of the UK or the Organic Food Federation. This is a guarantee to the consumer that the product reaches the stringent condition required in order for a product to be truly defined as organic by law.

Going organic may have a very positive influence on your health, for more details of what organic products are available contact your nearest Holland & Barrett store.

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1 Soil Association, Organic Farming report 2000, March 2001 ii Food Standards Agency Position Paper: FSA View of Organic Farming, August 2000. iii. W Shuphan, Nutritional value of crops as influenced by organic and inorganic fertilizer treatments, qualitas plantraum; Plantfoods for human nutrition, 23 (4), 330-358, 1973 iv. BL Smith, Organic foods vs. supermarket foods: element levels, Journal of Applied Nutrition, 45, 35-39, 1993

Press enquiries: For further information please contact: Christina Panayi on 02476 244422 E-mail: emedia@hollandandbarrett.com www.hollandandbarrett.com