Spit it out! Pesticides on our food.

Pesticides on our produce should be a cause for concern for every one of us. Even if you feed your own kids all organic foods, if they go to school, they're bound to be exposed to the very pesticides you're trying to protect them from. I believe that if we all start spreading the word about how harmful these chemicals really are, change can take place. Armed with facts, parents can approach school boards, day care centers, church groups, etc. and ask them to protect our kids!

Of course, there are certain foods we should avoid because of the genetic modifications, like corn and soy. But that's a tough one because corn and soy byproducts are in so much of our processed foods. Even the oils used in baking and frying tend to be made from genetically engineered foods. 

And sugar is another problem altogether. Because much of the sugar we consume is derived from GM beets, even that is an issue.

But what about conventional produce that is not genetically modified? Well, there's still an issue with much of it due to the heavy use of pesticides here in the U.S. Sometimes, it's simply safer to buy imported produce from countries that do not grow GM crops and do not use the pesticides allowed here in this country. 

Photo by Lucy Toner

The Center for Food Safety released a top 5 list for the foods affected most by pesticides. Of course, topping the list are apples. I will only buy organic apples because of this. After all, what good is the old adage, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," when the truth is that eating American-grown conventional apples just might be the very reason you or your children are sick to begin with. In 2010, the residue from over 47 pesticides were found in these apples. Due to the diphenylamine (DPA) found in over 80% of the conventional apples grown here, most American apples have been banned in Europe. Banned! Yet we keep feeding them to our kids in school cafeterias, fast food restaurants, etc., thinking they are the 'healthy' choice. Yikes!

Photo by Peter Griffin

Even worse than the apples, grapes are coated with 56 pesticides, according to the USDA Pesticide Data Program (PDP). And 8 of these are known carcinogens; 4 are developmental or reproductive toxins. Why are we feeding these to our kids?? Maybe it's simply because we are uninformed. Some of the pesticides used on grape crops are linked to problems with fertility and with miscarriages. No. No. No.

Photo by Peter Griffin

Peaches top grapes with a whopping 62 pesticide residues found in a study by PDP in 2008. I suspect it's only gotten worse since then. Twelve of the pesticides are neurotoxins, which negatively affect the brain and nervous system. As with grapes, eight are known carcinogens.

Photo by Penny Ferguson

The final fruit in the top 5 is the beloved strawberry. You know, the fruit, when added to a spinach salad, is both delicious and healthy. Or is it? Based on the 2009 study by the PDP, conventional strawberries contain residue from 45 various pesticides, 6 of them as known carcinogens and 7 neurotoxins. Not so healthy after all, huh?

Photo by Peter Griffin

One vegetable made its way onto the list: celery. I love celery. Especially the celery I buy in Lancaster County at Hodecker's Farm. Nothing like it. Now, I'm not sure if the Hodeckers use pesticides, but I guarantee you I'll be checking into it. When my mom was still alive, one of the reasons I looked forward to her visits was that I knew she would come bearing big bags of celery. Delicious. Now my cousin, Kelly, has adopted her tradition. But maybe not for long. I have to check out how safe it is first. After all, conventional celery tops the list here with the most pesticide residue of all -- 64! That includes 12 different neurotoxins and 10 known carcinogens. Crap.

Photo by Seth Clifton

Another thing to note about celery crops -- one of the pesticides contains Spinosad, which was found on 100% of the samples. The problem with this one? It's toxic to honeybees. Wonderful.




If you want to read more about the above studies and why they present reasons for concern, please visit The Center for Food Safety and read their report.

Caring about you and your kids,