Virginia 'Ginger' Worthington, 60; Advocate for Organic Produce

Virginia Wilson "Ginger" Worthington, 60, a nutritionist whose research suggested that organic produce is more nutritious than conventional food, died Nov. 27 of breast cancer at her home in Washington.

Beginning in 1998, Dr. Worthington published several studies that proclaimed the nutritional superiority of organically produced foods. Her best-known study, which appeared in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2001, examined 41 other research papers.

Dr. Worthington concluded that organic vegetables, fruits and grains contain 27 percent more Vitamin C than conventional produce; 21.1 percent more iron; 29.3 percent more magnesium; 13.6 percent more phosphorus; and 15.1 percent fewer nitrates, which typically derive from pesticides.

Her findings were embraced by natural-food advocates as evidence of the superiority of organic food over standard produce. Other researchers, however, attacked Dr. Worthington's results and questioned her interpretation of statistics. Some studies have found that, except for lower levels of pesticides in organic foods, there are few nutritional differences between the two types of produce.

Dr. Worthington responded to her critics in 2002, maintaining that her research was valid by any statistical measure. References to her nutritional studies often appear on Web sites and in publications about the benefits of organic food.

Early in her career, Dr. Worthington worked as a computer expert, but her interest in food and nutrition dated from childhood, when she was often in poor health. Her family was from Washington, but she was born in Berea, Ohio, which her mother was visiting at the time.

As a student at the Madeira School in McLean, Dr. Worthington began to explore her interest in nutrition. She graduated from the University of Maryland in 1970 and held a series of computer jobs with several research firms, including Computer Sciences Corp., until 1980.

From 1980 to 1984, she worked with optometrist Amiel Francke, who sought to improve vision through exercise and behavior modification. After serving as a nutritional adviser at a Beltsville counseling center for children, Dr. Worthington became a private nutrition consultant in 1986.

She received a master's degree in nutrition sciences from the University of Maryland in 1991 and a doctorate in international health from Johns Hopkins University in 1997.

In addition to her work as a nutritionist, Dr. Worthington had many other personal and professional interests. In the early 1980s, she and her husband, J. Philip Shambaugh, designed and built an earth-sheltered, environmentally friendly house that is believed to be the only one of its kind in Washington. Most of the living space is below ground, and there is a garden on the roof.

As vice president of the Forest Hills Citizens Association for several years, Dr. Worthington spoke before the D.C. Zoning Commission to encourage ordinances on tree cover and other environmental concerns. She also was a founding member of the environment committee at St. Columba's Episcopal Church in Washington and led efforts to improve the church's recycling program and energy efficiency.

Dr. Worthington and her husband traveled widely throughout the world, often visiting spiritual leaders in India. In 1991, they accompanied a Salvadoran doctor, Juan Romagoza, on his first return trip to El Salvador after enduring severe torture by Salvadoran military officials in 1980. Romagoza successfully sued for redress of the damage inflicted.

In addition to her husband, Dr. Worthington's survivors include her mother, Virginia Worthington of Bethesda; a brother, Joe Worthington of Silver Spring; and two sisters, Holly Worthington of Chevy Chase and Meredith Worthington of Gaithersburg.