Should you buy organic fruits and vegetables?
When I went to Trader Joe’s today in Livermore, I glanced at the packaged organic fruits and vegetables that are higher priced and wondered how many people really know which fruits and vegiatables that should be eaten that are only organically grown.
Fifty-seven percent of Americans think that organic farming is better for the environment, according to a February 2000 ABC News poll. The list below also considers the harm these chemicals cause to wildlife and farm workers. Pesticides can contaminate drinking water, and although DDT and related chemicals such as dieldrin have been banned in the U.S. for over 20 years, these pesticides can still be found in foods that absorb them from the soil. To reduce your pesticide exposure, you can peel fruit that you would normally just rinse, such as apples and pears. Some pesticides, like dieldrin, aldicarb, and DDT, however, are systemic, pervading the flesh of the vegetable or fruit.
The following fruits and vegitables are ranked according to the amount and toxicity of pesticide residues found.
- PEACHESSummer’s blushing fruit contains high residues of iprodione, classified as a probable human carcinogen by the Enviromental Protection Agency (EPA), and methyl parathion, an endocrine disruptor and organophosphate (OP) insecticide. OPs are potent neurotoxins that attack the nervous system and brain. Methyl parathion has caused massive kills of bees and birds. According to Consumer Reports, single servings of peaches “consistently exceeded” the EPA’s safe daily limit for a 44-pound child.
- APPLESmay contain methyl parathion. Both fresh apples, and baby food applesauce can also contain chlorpyrifos, an OP which has caused large bird kills. Many IPM apple growers are trying to phase out OPs.
- PEARS, both fresh and in baby food, can also come with methyl parathion, as well as the OP azinphos-methyl, which is toxic to freshwater fish, amphibians, and bees.
- WINTER SQUASHDieldrin, a chlorinated, carcinogenic insecticide, exceed the safe daily limit for a young child in two-thirds of positive samples. Another potent carcinogen, heptachlor, also showed up. DDT and its breakdown product, DDE, were detected in baby food squash.
- GREEN BEANScan contain acephate, methamidophos, and dimethoate (three neurotoxic OPs) and endosulfan, an endocrine-disrupting insecticide, which showed up in baby food, too. Acephate disorients migrating birds, throwing them off course.
To read the rest of this article and the list of organic vegetables and fruits click here.
