Arecentanalysis from advocacy organization Consumer Reports is the latest to highlight the potential threat of pesticides in our produce.
Itsuggeststhat around 20% of commonly sold fruits and vegetables in the U.S. could contain unsafe levels of pesticides.
Given that concerning news, you might be wondering how to lessen your risk of exposure.
Strawberries being washed under running water.Image: Nataly Mayak (Shutterstock)
Heres what the research suggests.
These measurements are taken after the produce is washed with water and sometimes peeled, depending on the item.
So there is a baseline assumption that people will wash their produce at home.
The effects of washing produce have been empirically studied.
They found that water noticeably decreased the residue remaining from nine out of the 12 pesticides that they measured.
The Centers for Disease Control and Preventionrecommends againstusing anything besides water to wash fruits and vegetables.
And the EPA has beensteadily limiting or removingthe most dangerous pesticides from use on foods since the mid-1990s.
Under these more restrictive criteria, the mere act of washing your produce might not make it completely pesticide-safe.
The bottom linewashing produce before eating it raw or cooking it is a good idea.
Pesticides are known to be aclear poisoning riskfor people like farm workers who spend the most time around them.
Organic products do tend to be more expensive, however.
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