Can You Wash Pesticides off Your Food? A Guide to Eating Fewer Toxic Chemicals
There are some simple steps you can take to minimize the amount of pesticides on your fruits and vegetables
April 18, 2024 | Source: The Guardian | by Catherine Roberts
To avoid pesticides, consider buying the fruits and vegetables that pose the least risk in a new analysis by Consumer Reports, and buying organic for those that pose the most. Below are answers to common questions about what other steps you can take.
Does washing remove pesticide residues?
Yes, some – but not all. Note that when the US Department of Agriculture tests a food for pesticides, it first washes and, in some cases, peels the food as a consumer would. So properly wash produce before you eat it raw or you cook it. (Cooking may eliminate some pesticides, but washing produce is still crucial.) That means running produce under cold water for 15 to 20 seconds. For heads of lettuce or other greens, turn them upside down after washing to drain. Use a soft brush to scrub the outside skin of items like apples, carrots and potatoes.
What about special washes or rinses?
There’s no need for anything other than water. There’s little evidence that soaps or special rinses wash away pesticide residues. And the USDA doesn’t use detergents or bleaches on any food it tests.
Does peeling or not eating skins help?
For items that aren’t always peeled but can be – like apples, potatoes and carrots – peeling likely removes some residues, but not all. That’s because some pesticides are systemic, meaning they’re absorbed into the plant. Peeling can have a downside, too, because the skins contribute healthy fiber and other nutrients, says Amy Keating, a registered dietitian at Consumer Reports, so if you like eating them, don’t get rid of them just to avoid pesticides.