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  • From: "Tradingpost" <tradingpost@lobo.net>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] Why Should You Care About Pesticides?
  • Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:24:50 -0600


Why Should You Care About Pesticides?
http://www.foodnews.org/

There is growing consensus in the scientific community that small doses of
pesticides and other chemicals 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.
Will Washing and Peeling Help?

Nearly all of the data used to create these lists already considers how
people typically wash and prepare produce (for example, apples are washed
before testing, bananas are peeled). While washing and rinsing fresh produce
may 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.
How This Guide Was Developed

The produce ranking was developed by analysts at the not-for-profit
Environmental Working Group (EWG) based on the results of nearly 43,000 tests
for pesticides on produce collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration between 2000 and 2005. A detailed
description of the criteria used in developing the rankings is available as
well as a full list of fresh fruits and vegetables that have been tested (see
below).

EWG is a not-for-profit environmental research organization dedicated to
improving public health and protecting the environment by reducing pollution
in air, water and food. For more information please visit www.ewg.org.

The Full List: 43 Fruits & Veggies follows showing pesticide load of most
popular fruits and vegetables at
http://www.foodnews.org/
-------------------

paul tradingpost@lobo.net






  • [Livingontheland] Why Should You Care About Pesticides?, Tradingpost, 04/24/2008

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