Washing fruits proven ineffective in removing pesticides
A recent scientific report published in the American Chemical Society's journal Nano Letters has provided new evidence that washing fruits does not effectively remove toxic agricultural chemicals. This study contributes to the ongoing discussion about the extent of pesticide contamination in food and its potential health risks. Earlier this year, Consumer Reports disclosed that 20% of 59 different fruit and vegetable categories carried pesticide residues at levels posing "significant risks" to consumers.
Pesticides penetrate beyond fruit's surface, study shows
The study primarily aimed to share technical details of a process developed for enhanced trace detection of food pesticides. However, it also underscored the inefficacy of washing fruit, a common food safety practice. The researchers stated that traditional "fruit-cleaning operations cannot wholly remove pesticides." They found that "the pesticides penetrate the peel layer into the pulp layer," indicating that contamination goes deeper than the surface.
Peeling fruits more effective than washing, researchers say
The researchers discovered that pesticide contamination diminished when the apple peel was removed along with some of the pulp layer. Dongdong Ye, a professor at China's School of Materials and Chemistry at Anhui Agricultural University and an author of the paper, stated that peeling can effectively eliminate nearly all pesticide residues, unlike washing. Ye mentioned that the study aims to provide health guidance for consumers.
New technique could aid understanding of pesticide persistence
Michael Hansen, a senior scientist at Consumer Reports, believes this new technique could help academics and government scientists better understand pesticide persistence in foods and how to protect consumers. He warned against relying solely on washing, suggesting it may not be enough on its own. While many studies have documented health risks posed by pesticides, most focus on occupational exposure rather than dietary.
USDA and FDA stand by legal limits for pesticide residues
The USDA and the Food and Drug Administration maintain that if pesticide residues in foods fall within legal limits, they are not generally a concern for health. Both agencies have been tracking levels of pesticide residues in foods for decades. The most recent USDA report stated that 99% of foods tested had residues within legal limits and were "safe." However, this contradicts the findings of Consumer Reports, which considers the government's limits too high.
