If you look at labels carefully and aim to buy organic food,
you can feel healthy and wise. Toby’s,
the Palace Market, the Farmer’s Market (coming soon!). the Bolinas People’s
Store, the Murch and Weber Farm Stands will provide you with wonderful choices
of organic produce. Whole Food, The Good Earth, Trader Joe's are other good options You can send this column to your friends
who live on fast food. But, if you
eat out on occasion, pay attention.
The Dirty Dozen
Every year the Environmental Working Group analyzes
pesticide residues on produce and publishes a guide for shoppers and
eaters. Here is their 2015 guide
to fruits and vegetables containing containing the heaviest pesticide residues: They have named
these items the Dirty Dozen. Try
to find organic versions of these foods, or grow them yourself if
possible.
Apples, peaches, nectarines, strawberries, grapes, celery, spinach
sweet bell peppers, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, snap peas (imported), potatoes.
The average potato had more pesticides by weight than any
other item. A single grape sample
and a sweet bell pepper sample contained 15 pesticides. Single samples of cherry tomatoes,
nectarines, peaches, imported snap peas and strawberries contained 13 different
pesticides. Additionally, hot
peppers, kale and collard greens were frequently found to be contaminated with
pesticides.
The Clean Fifteen
Avocados, sweet corn, pineapples, cabbage, sweet peas (frozen), onions,
asparagus, mangoes, papayas, kiwi, eggplant, grapefruit, cantaloupe,
cauliflower, sweet potatoes
Avocados were the cleanest: only 1% of avocado samples
showed any detectable pesticides.
89% of pineapples, 82% of kiwis, 80% of papayas, 88% of mangos and 61%
of cantaloupes had no residues. When
you think about your food budget, you can buy non-organic forms of the ‘clean
fifteen’ with less concern.
However, all produce should be washed with tap water before eating;
adding dilute vinegar will also help to remove bacteria and other germs.
Should You Worry about Pesticides
According to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic
Pollutants, 9 of the 12 most dangerous and persistent chemicals are
pesticides. Reviews have found
that most studies on non-Hodgkin lymphoma and leukemia showed positive associations
with pesticide exposure. Strong evidence
also exists for an association between pesticide exposure and neurological
problems, birth defects, fetal death and developmental disorders of the nervous
system. Pesticide exposure has
been linked to melanoma in farm workers.
Studies on links to other diseases are ongoing. Pesticide exposure to farm workers who
apply these chemicals is especially strong.
I advise readers to keep a list of the dirty dozen and clean
fifteen in their wallet, so that they can ask questions and/or be wary when eating
at a restaurant or a party. We
should count our blessings to live in West Marin, where organic food is so easy
to obtain, and – if you choose wisely – affordable. Finally – check out the website of the Environmental Working
Group, and make a donation if you are so inclined. They do a great job in keeping us informed.
Sadja Greenwood, MD, MPH
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