Washing Fruit and Vegetables Won’t Cut It: What You Need to Know

A new study from Nano Letters, highlighted in a recent article by The Guardian, backs up what a lot of folks around here have suspected—just rinsing your fruit and vegetables under the faucet won’t wash off all those pesky pesticides. If you’re trying to eat cleaner, this might make you think twice about what’s on your plate.

The Lowdown on Pesticide Residue

Turns out, pesticides don’t just sit on the surface; they sink right into the fruits and veggies. Researchers found that even a good scrub won’t get rid of them because they seep into the pulp. Apples, for example, still had pesticides under the peel, meaning a quick rinse just won’t cut it.

Consumer Reports dug into this too, finding that 20% of 59 different fruits and veggies tested had pesticide levels high enough to be concerning. The USDA, on the other hand, says 99% of tested foods fall within “legal limits” and are safe to eat. But let’s be real—those limits might not be as strict as they should be.

So, What Can You Do?

The study suggests peeling fruits and veggies is the best way to ditch the pesticides. But here’s the catch—peeling also strips away a lot of the good stuff, like fiber and nutrients. So, what’s a person to do? Some folks stick with organic or buy from local farms they trust to use fewer chemicals.

Government agencies claim most food is safe, but this study adds another layer to the debate. If you’re looking to cut down on pesticides, choosing organic or naturally grown produce might be the way to go.

For more details on the study, check out the full article here: Peel those apples: washing produce doesn’t remove pesticides, study finds

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