An inquiry conducted by Consumer Reports, a nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product assessment, has revealed that certain nonorganic fruits and vegetables, whether fresh, frozen, or canned, exhibit worrying levels of pesticide contamination.
The report, released on Thursday, highlights that a significant portion of the produce showing the highest pesticide levels is imported into the United States. Out of the 100 samples displaying the most contamination, 65 were imports, with 52 originating from Mexico.
The majority of these heavily contaminated imports were strawberries, predominantly the frozen variety, a circumstance attributed to their low-to-ground growth making them susceptible to insect infestation. Consequently, strawberries frequently feature at the top of lists concerning pesticide-laden foods.
Both imported and domestic green beans displayed elevated pesticide levels, including samples labeled as organic, a surprising discovery according to James Rogers, Consumer Reports' director of food safety research and testing. He noted that acephate, an organophosphate insecticide categorized as a "possible human carcinogen," was present in nearly all green bean samples. It's worth noting that the use of this chemical on green beans was banned by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2011.
Responding to these findings, the Food Industry Association, which advocates for all sectors of the industry, emphasized the extensive review process conducted by the EPA to ensure the safety of pesticides for human consumption.
Hilary Thesmar, the association's chief science officer and senior vice president of food and product safety, pointed out that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for monitoring and enforcing EPA's pesticide tolerances in food, including imported items.
The Alliance for Food and Farming, representing both organic and conventional farmers, emphasized the commitment of farmers to prioritize safety, citing their families as the primary consumers of their produce. Additionally, they highlighted decades of government data affirming the safety of fruits and vegetables, along with nutritional studies underscoring the health benefits of conventionally grown produce.
Repeat offenders on the contamination list
The top offenders identified by Consumer Reports closely mirrored other compilations of pesticide-laden produce, such as the annual "Dirty Dozen" roster released by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit organization focused on environmental and public health issues, which has been producing the report since 2004.
Common selections like blueberries, strawberries, bell peppers, potatoes, green beans, kale, and mustard greens featured prominently on both the EWG and Consumer Reports inventories. Consumer Reports specifically flagged watermelon for its oxamyl content.
Oxamyl, also detected on bell peppers, falls within the carbamate category, a group of pesticides that disrupt nervous system function, according to the EPA. Carbamates were developed as replacements for older, problematic compounds such as organophosphates, which have been in use since the 1850s.
Organophosphates, among the most widely used chemical compounds globally, are prevalent in nerve gas, herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides, and are utilized in the production of plastics and solvents. Research has associated organophosphates with diminished sperm count, childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and "neurodevelopmental deficits in childhood, including reduced IQ, perceptual reasoning, and memory," according to the EPA.
Both organophosphates and carbamates are considered high-priority substances for review under the Food Quality Protection Act, according to the EPA.
Studies have also linked pesticides as a group to adverse health outcomes such as preterm births, congenital malformations like neural tube defects, spontaneous abortions, and an increase in genetic damage in humans. Pesticide exposure has additionally been linked to conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and other disorders.
Critics highlight the EPA's perceived inaction as a significant factor contributing to the persistence of concerning pesticide levels, despite mounting scientific evidence suggesting even low levels could pose risks to health.
Alexis Temkin, EWG's senior toxicologist, remarked, "The EPA could certainly improve its approach by establishing more precise safe limits based on the latest scientific findings. Some of these pesticides demand urgent attention from the EPA to thoroughly assess their potential health risks."
James Rogers of Consumer Reports echoed this sentiment, stating, "We have reservations regarding the adequacy of the pesticide safety thresholds established by the EPA for protecting public health. These thresholds are infrequently updated, leading to a 'set it and forget it' mentality."
Rogers added, "This is why you'll observe more health-conscious limits set by states like California compared to our federal government, as they conduct extensive research and analyze data to establish stricter thresholds than our regulatory agencies."
How much to eat?
According to the report's findings, not all news was gloomy. Analyzing seven years of testing data from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) concerning 59 common fruits and vegetables, Consumer Reports revealed that only 20% of the produce tested contained "significant risks" from specific pesticides deemed most concerning by the organization.
James Rogers emphasized that this issue revolves around long-term, chronic exposure, prompting the desire to inform consumers about risk reduction measures. Hence, the report provides a chart delineating the quantity of each fruit or vegetable deemed safe for daily consumption.
The chart categorizes produce based on pesticide concern, with the lowest levels marked as "Okay to eat more than 10 servings a day." For instance, the report approves consuming ten or more servings of applesauce, equivalent to a third of a cup, each day.
Foods highly contaminated with pesticides are flagged as "Okay to eat up to ½ serving a day." Notably, potatoes and blueberries fall into this category.
However, Jane Houlihan, research director for Healthy Babies, Bright Futures, cautioned that the Consumer Reports investigation didn't address other issues like heavy metal contamination or the potential toxicity of pesticide combinations. Healthy Babies, Bright Futures, a coalition of nonprofits, scientists, and donors, aims to minimize infants' exposure to neurotoxic chemicals.
Houlihan urged skepticism toward the "safe to eat" recommendations, citing the cumulative risks posed by mixtures found in produce.
She warned that children consuming the same, seemingly safe option daily could inadvertently ingest repeated doses of the same pesticides or other common contaminants.
"Pesticides currently deemed safe may reveal harmful effects in future research," Houlihan cautioned. She highlighted the recent case of lead and chromium contamination in applesauce, prompting the removal of three children's applesauce brands from the market in November. Notably, there is no safe level of lead, according to the EPA.
Experts recommend a diverse diet rich in colorful foods, which not only provides a range of micronutrients but also mitigates exposure to any single contaminant. This diversity is particularly crucial during pregnancy and childhood, periods when developing bodies are more vulnerable to pesticides' impacts.
The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasized the potential risks associated with pesticide exposure during pregnancy and childhood, including birth defects, low birth weight, developmental issues, and cancer.
Ways to reduce pesticides in your food
While cleaning fruits and vegetables before consumption can indeed lower pesticide levels, achieving complete eradication of residues remains elusive, as stated by the National Pesticide Information Center.
The center advises beginning with clean hands and washing and scrubbing produce under running water, rather than soaking, to maximize pesticide removal.
Contrary to popular belief, using soap, detergent, or commercial produce washes isn't recommended, as the FDA has found no evidence of their superior effectiveness. After washing, it's advisable to dry the produce with a clean cloth or paper towel to further reduce any bacteria present.
When aiming to avoid the more contaminated produce highlighted in the report, consider switching to organic alternatives if feasible. Although organic foods don't necessarily offer superior nutrition, most boast minimal to zero pesticide residue, according to Alexis Temkin from the EWG.
Temkin noted in a previous interview with CNN that transitioning to an organic diet can swiftly reduce pesticide levels detected in urine. She emphasized this observation as a recurring phenomenon.
