Dear “Earth Talk”: Is there a way to wash
the pesticides off fruits and vegetables before we eat them? — Michelle Chalmette, Los Angeles
Many fruits and vegetables sold in the United States
today are treated with pesticides, and residues of these potentially
harmful chemicals often remain on their surfaces. Rinsing all produce
thoroughly before eating is always a good idea, but many pesticides,
fungicides, and other agricultural chemicals are trapped under a wax
coating that has been added to resist water and prolong shelf life. For
this reason, rinsing produce with just plain water is not enough to do the
job. Several companies have developed products that can help.
Organiclean contains extracts from coconut,
sugarcane, sugar maple, bilberry, orange, and lemon; is completely
biodegradable and organic; and is a registered kosher product. The
manufacturer claims that the product is ideal for hard-to-clean produce
such as strawberries, raspberries, spinach, lettuce, and broccoli. It comes
in an 8-ounce plastic spray bottle.
Another option is Veggie Wash, from Citrus Magic.
Made of natural vegetable-based ingredients from citrus fruit, corn, and
coconut and containing no preservatives, Veggie Wash comes in a 16-ounce
spray bottle, as well as 32-ounce and gallon refills. Fit Fruit &
Vegetable Wash spray is made from citric acid and grapefruit oil, and its
maker claims that it removes 98 percent more pesticides, waxes, and other
contaminants than does washing with water alone. Fit comes in 12-ounce
spray bottles and 32-ounce refills.
For those inclined to more homespun solutions,
various combinations of common pantry items work well, too. One recipe
calls for soaking produce for five minutes in a 50-50 solution of white
vinegar and water; while another calls for the spraying of fruits and
vegetables with a combination of one tablespoon of lemon juice, two
tablespoons of baking soda, and one cup of water. Consumer Reports says that a
diluted wash of dish detergent followed by a tap-water rinse eliminates
pesticide residues on most fruits and vegetables. After any such treatment,
produce should be rinsed thoroughly in plain water before it is eaten or
cooked.
Some analysts think that washing produce is not
needed, given strict Food and Drug Administration regulations about
pesticide residues. “In the U.S., there’s very little produce
with pesticide residues anywhere near the allowed tolerance levels,”
says Elizabeth Andress, a food-safety specialist with the University of
Georgia’s Center for Food Safety. “If you use a produce wash,
you may be reducing the levels of pesticide residues,” she says,
“but the levels were nowhere near harmful to begin with.”
Nonetheless, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
says that the only way to ensure avoidance of pesticide residues completely
is to buy certified organic produce only. Most U.S. supermarkets stock
pesticide-free organic produce for those willing to spend a few more
pennies per item. Consumers should note, however, that even organic produce
should be washed before they are eaten, even if just to remove the
impurities caused by human handling.
For more information: Organiclean, 888-834-9274, www.organiclean.com; Veggie Wash, 800-451-7096,
www.citrusmagic.com; Fit Fruit & Vegetable Wash, 800-FIT-WASH,
www.fitwash.com; “Pesticides and Food: What You and Your Family Need
to Know,” www.epa.gov/pesticides/food.
Send questions to “Earth Talk” in care of E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; or e-mail earthtalk@emagazine.com.
This article appears in Mar 17-23, 2005.
