Washing Produce Won’t Entirely Remove Pesticides According to New Research. Here’s What To Do Instead.

Newly released data compiled by Consumer Reports has revealed that a worrying amount of pesticide residue has been found on fruits and vegetables sold in grocery stores across the United States. Organophosphates and carbamate insecticides were among the pesticides found on the produce. These harmful chemicals have been proven to have adverse neurodevelopmental effects, as well as affecting reproductive systems and fetal development. According to a new study, what makes matters even worse is that washing produce doesn’t remove all of these residues. 

The Study on Pesticide Residue and Washing Produce

Published in the American Chemical Society’s Nano Letters journal, the study outlined the researchers’ new methods of detecting pesticides on produce. The study further revealed that simply washing produce did not significantly lessen the risk of ingesting pesticides. Believe it or not, even peeling the produce was often found to be insufficient. Using Raman imaging technology, they were able to observe the distribution of pesticides in the apple peel and pulp. What they discovered was that the pesticides penetrated the peel and ended up in the pulp layer. 

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Peeling Produce

However, they did note that peeling the produce was more effective at removing some pesticides than not peeling at all. Peeling your produce can reduce some of the risks of ingesting pesticides, particularly those found in the epidermis and near-epidermal pulp of the fruit. One of the paper’s authors, a professor at Anhui Agricultural University, Dongdong Ye, stated that “Rather than fostering undue apprehension, the research posits that peeling can effectively eliminate nearly all pesticide residues, contrasted with the frequently recommended practice of washing.” [1] 

Not All Bad News

This new technique could prove very beneficial to other scientists who wish to understand how residual pesticides affect fruit and vegetables long after they have been harvested. So far, they have been able to observe how the residue penetrates the layer, pointing out that washing produce is simply not enough. The Consumer Reports data indicated that 20% of 59 different produce categories contained pesticide residue levels that posed “significant risks” to consumers.

Thankfully, it’s not all bad news, though. The Consumer Reports analysis also noted that the pesticides found in around two-thirds of the foods tested presented no real health risk. This included almost all the organic ones. They further stated that the largest risk was caused by a handful of pesticides. Additionally, the use of these pesticides was limited to a small percentage of farms in the United States. This makes it somewhat easier to identify the issues and work on targeted solutions. [2]

The Study of Pesticide Health Risks

While the adverse health effects of pesticides have been documented in many studies before, these have mainly focused on occupational exposure. Occupational exposure poses a risk to agricultural workers, workers in the pesticide industry, and domestic pest exterminators. However, exposure to pesticides in the general population mainly occurs through the consumption of food and water that has been contaminated with pesticide residues. [3] This is why it is so important to learn more about how deeply pesticide residue penetrates produce. 

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Is Washing Produce Effective At All?

Rinsing your fruit and vegetables in warm water for no less than one minute can help reduce some pesticide residue. Soaking the produce is particularly effective for removing surface residue. The United States Food and Drug Administration advises against using soaps or detergents to wash your fruit and vegetables. This is because, just like pesticides, the detergent could be absorbed into the produce or remain on the surface. Some people swear by soaking their produce in a solution made from salt and water, or vinegar and water. However, this is not advised, as there is a chance that the solution and pesticides could produce harmful chemicals if combined. [4]

The Bottom Line on Washing Produce

Based on the latest data, we can conclude that simply washing produce will not remove deeply embedded pesticide residues. Taking certain precautions, such as washing or soaking in warm water, might remove some surface residue. However, imaging technologies have revealed just how deeply into the pulp layers the residue can be found. Based on their findings, you will have better results if you peel your produce before consuming it. However, it is not all bad news, as around two-thirds of the produce tested did not contain significant amounts of harmful chemicals. In fact, the farms that use harmful chemicals are limited to a small area of American agricultural land. This makes it easier to study the effects of pesticide residue on fresh produce.  

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