that come from contaminating molds (patulin
in apple juice, from a Penicillium mold
growing on damaged fruit), agricultural
chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, fungicides),
and soil and air pollutants (dioxins, polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons). In general, it’s
thought that the usual levels of these
contaminants do not constitute an immediate
health hazard. On the other hand, they are
toxins, and therefore undesirable additions to
our diet. We can reduce our intake of them by
washing produce, by peeling off surface
layers, and by buying certified organic
produce, which is grown in relatively clean
soil without the use of most agricultural
chemicals.
Fresh Produce and Food Poisoning
Though we generally associate outbreaks of
food poisoning with foods derived from
animals, fruits and vegetables are also a