The difference between the two was largely a choice of lifestyle, rather than healthy eating

David Miliband - Foreign Secretary

ORGANIC food is substantially more healthy and beneficial, according to a massive pan-European survey based on a farm owned by Newcastle University.

The 14 million pound survey, the biggest survey ever carried out in Europe, "proved" that organic fruit and vegetables have 40% more vitamins and disease-preventing anti-oxidants - and organic milk held a staggering 90% more.

This will come of good news for Yorkshire farmers and market gardeners, who are joining the organic movement in ever growing numbers, but will stir up even more controversy, particularly amongst politicians.

The government's Food Standards Agency (FSA) recently criticised organic food, saying that its benefits over conventional produce were questionable. The present Foreign Secretary David Miliband, when he was Defra minister, said the difference between the two was largely a choice of lifestyle, rather than healthy eating.