When Should You Buy Organic? Free Guide Ranks Pesticide Contamination of Fruit

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At http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php you will also find the

ratings of a list of 43 vegetables and fruits, several common questions as well

as links to several informative articles.

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When Should You Buy Organic?

Free Guide Ranks

Pesticide Contamination of Fruits and Vegetables

http://www.healthliesexposed.com/articles/article_2006_10_6_4508.shtml

 

10/06/06 Author: Press Release Source: Environmental Working Group

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCTOBER 3, 2006

2:16 PM

 

CONTACT: Environmental Working Group

(202) 667-6982

 

 

When Should You Buy Organic?

Free Guide Ranks Pesticide Contamination of Fruits and Vegetables

 

WASHINGTON - October 4 - If you're concerned about food safety, you probably

already look for organic produce at the supermarket. But if you can't always

buy organic, you can still dramatically lower your family's exposure to

chemical pesticides by choosing the least pesticide-contaminated fruits and

vegetables with the Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce.

 

The Shopper's Guide is a handy, wallet-size card that lists the " Dirty Dozen "

most contaminated fruits and vegetables, as well as the 12 most " Consistently

Clean " items. It's available for free download at www.foodnews.org . The

newest edition of the Guide comes in both English and Spanish versions for the

first time.

 

The Shopper's Guide was developed by Environmental Working Group (EWG), based

on the results of nearly 43,000 tests for pesticides on produce by the

Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration between 2000 and

2004. EWG's computer analysis found that consumers could cut their pesticide

exposure by almost 90 percent by avoiding the most contaminated fruits and

vegetables and eating the least contaminated instead.

 

Eating the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables will expose a person to

about 15 pesticides a day, on average. Eating the 12 least contaminated will

expose a person to fewer than two pesticides a day.

 

" Federal produce tests tell us that some fruits and vegetables are so likely

to be contaminated with pesticides that you should always buy them organic, "

said Richard Wiles, EWG's senior vice president. " Others are so consistently

clean that you can eat them with less concern. With the Shopper's Guide in your

pocket, it's easy to tell which is which. "

 

EWG's analysis of federal testing data found:

 

Peaches and apples topped the Dirty Dozen list. Almost 97 percent of peaches

tested positive for pesticides, and almost 87 percent had two or more

pesticide residues. About 92 percent of apples tested positive, and 79 percent

had two

or more pesticides. The rest of the Dirty Dozen include sweet bell peppers,

celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, imported grapes, spinach,

lettuce, and potatoes.

 

Onions, avocados, and sweet corn headed the Consistently Clean list. For all

three foods, more than 90 percent of the samples tested had no detectable

pesticide residues. Others on the Consistently Clean list include pineapples,

mango, asparagus, sweet peas, kiwi, bananas, cabbage, broccoli, and papaya.

There is growing scientific consensus that small doses of pesticides can

adversely affect people, especially during vulnerable periods of fetal

development

and childhood when exposures can have long lasting effects. Because 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 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.

 

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Original press release can be found here:

http://www.foodnews.org/release.php