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pesticide residuestruth
Pesticide Residue Calculator
Scientists and health experts overwhelmingly agree that the mere presence of pesticide residues on food does not mean they are harmful.
Health experts and scientists say produce, grown either conventionally or organically, is safe to eat for you and your children. Not only are conventionally and organically grown fruits and vegetables safe and nutritious, Americans should be consuming more of these, not less, if they hope to reduce their risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
Get StartedWhen considering the safety of any substance, it is important to understand what is known as a "dose-response relationship." This means that almost every substance — even water or oxygen — can be toxic at some level. For every product there is a point, or a dose level, that will not produce a response in a living organism. In the world of pesticide regulation, that point is called the No Observed Adverse Effect Level.
The United States Department of Agriculture's Pesticide Data Program has been in existence for nearly twenty years and is designed to continually measure pesticide residues on food to ensure they are safe to eat by any age group — especially children — over a long period of time.
A man could consume
servings of apples in one day
without any effect even if the apples have the highest pesticide residue recorded for apples by USDA.
Listen to your momEat more fruits and vegetables!
Everyone agrees that the benefits of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables far outweigh any theoretical risk from pesticide residues. Learn more about the nutritional benefits of your favorite fruits and vegetables.
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- apple
- lettuce
- celery
- peach
- potato
- kale
- nectarine
- spinach
- carrot
- cherry
- pear
- strawberry
- bell pepper
- blueberries
Ask the Experts
Safe Fruits and Veggies Blog
Shopping Guide ListsAren't helpful in determining risk
Popular shopping guides about pesticide residues on certain foods are misleading to consumers.
For the real facts, the Alliance for Food and Farming turned to an expert panel of toxicologist, risk assessors and nutritionists. They concluded that lists like the "Dirty Dozen" are (a) misleading to consumers, (b) an impediment to public health because they discourage consumption of fresh produce and (c) lack scientific evidence that the pesticide levels found pose any risk. As a result, there is no reason why a consumer
should use these lists to guide their purchasing decisions for fruits and vegetables.
Why Are Shopping Guide Lists Misleading
Shopping guide lists about pesticide residues that are often seen in the media are not based on risk. The lists simply suggest that there could be the presence of pesticides in minute amounts on some fruits and vegetables. In fact, there is no scientific evidence which supports that the amount of pesticides described in these lists represent any health risk.
Learn MoreIs produce sold in the U.S. the safest in the world?
The U.S. produce industry has the most regulated farming practices and most rigorous standards in the world. In fact, EPA's testing requirements for pesticides used on food are more extensive than for chemicals in any other use category. Learn why United States fresh produce is safe.
Learn MoreHow Do Dirty Lists Affect Public Health?
Promotion of the "Dirty Dozen" list is actually an impediment to public health because it discourages consumption of fruits and vegetables. There is a well recognized health need to increase consumption of fruit and vegetables in the U.S. and we are far from our target.
Learn More
Just Wash It!
After reading the information on the safefruitsandveggies.com website, we hope consumers are reassured about the safety of both conventional and organic produce. But if you are still a bit concerned about pesticide residues there is a simple step consumers can take: Just wash it!
Here's what the Federal Food and Drug Administration says:
Washing fresh produce before eating is a healthful habit. You can reduce and often eliminate residues if they are present on fresh fruits and vegetables by following these simple tips:
- Wash produce with large amounts of cold or warm tap water, and scrub with a brush when appropriate; do not use soap.
- Throw away the outer leaves of leafy vegetables, such as lettuce and cabbage.
These washing steps should be followed for both conventional and organically grown produce to remove any pesticide residues, dirt or bacteria. Please remember to clean hands, scrub brushes or colandars before using to wash your fresh fruits and vegetables.