APPENDIX D: Lowering Your Pesticide Intake from Food 293• mangoes• asparagus• sweet peas (frozen)• kiwi fruit• bananas• cabbage• broccoli• papayaBecause the toxic effects of pesticides are worrisome, not well understood,
or in some cases completely unstudied, shoppers are wise to minimize
exposure to pesticides whenever possible.
While washing and rinsing fresh produce can reduce levels of some
pesticides, it does not eliminate them. Peeling also reduces exposures, but
valuable nutrients often go down the drain with the peel. The best option
is to eat a varied diet, wash all produce, and choose organic when possible
to reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.
Although the EWG Shopper’s Guide only measures pesticide residues on
produce, buying organic also makes sense if you’re concerned about
bacterial contamination. Organic farmers meet all the sanitation standards
required of conventional growers and, on, top of that, meet tight
restrictions on the use of compost and other organic material that do not
apply to conventional fruit and vegetable growers.
[quoted with permission]
The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit research organization based in
Washington, DC that uses the power of information to protect human health and the
environment. The Group’s research on food safety is viewable online at http://www.ewg.org/
issues/siteindex/issues.php?issueid=3004.