Washing Fruits & Vegetables

 

Dirty Secrets From Your Supermarket Produce Departments

WATCH: How To Wash Your Produce

Case Study on Water pH and the Effectiveness of Pesticides.

F. M. Fishel, J.A. Ferrell, Water pH and the Effectiveness of Pesticides. University of Florida IFAS Extension Publication PI-156 http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pi193

1. This document is PI-156, one of a series of the Agronomy Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date June 2007. Revised October 2010, November 2016, and September 2019.

 

Environmental Working Group's (EWG) 2019 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce™

Over Half of Samples of Kale Tainted With Possible Cancer-Causing Chemical

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2019

Nearly 70 percent of the produce sold in the U.S. comes with pesticide residues, according to EWG’s analysis of test data from the Department of Agriculture for our 2019 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™.

The most surprising news from the USDA tests reveals that the popular health food kale is among the most contaminated fruits and vegetables. More than 92 percent of kale samples had two or more pesticide residues detected, and a single sample could contain up to 18 different residues. The most frequently detected pesticide, found on nearly 60 percent of kale samples, was Dacthal, or DCPA – classified by the Environmental Protection Agency since 1995 as a possible human carcinogen, and prohibited for use in Europe since 2009.

Overall, the USDA found 225 different pesticides and pesticide breakdown products on popular fruits and vegetables Americans eat every day. Before testing, all produce was washed and peeled, just as people would prepare food for themselves, which shows that simple washing does not remove all pesticides.

The USDA had not tested kale for almost a decade. But even as its popularity as a food rich in vitamins and antioxidants has soared, the level and number of pesticide residues found on kale has increased significantly. EWG’s analysis places kale third on this year’s Dirty Dozen™, our annual ranking of the fruits and vegetables with the most pesticides.

EWG'S DIRTY DOZEN FOR 2019

1. Strawberries
2. Spinach
3. Kale
4. Nectarines
5. Apples
6. Grapes
7. Peaches
8. Cherries
9. Pears
10. Tomatoes
11. Celery
12. Potatoes

 

Each of these foods tested positive for a number of different pesticide residues and contained higher concentrations of pesticides than other produce. Key findings:

• More than 90 percent of samples of strawberries, apples, cherries, spinach, nectarines, and kale tested positive for residues of two or more pesticides.
• Multiple samples of kale showed 18 different pesticides.
• Kale and spinach samples had, on average, 1.1 to 1.8 times as much pesticide residue by weight than any other crop.

Dirty Secrets from the Supermarket! 

1. Produce isn't washed before it hits shelves

Theresa, a former Wal-Mart employee from Glen Burnie, MD, saw the produce arrive at the store on large pallets in trucks and hit the shelves without ever being washed. "I've seen it come in completely bad. I would never stop washing my produce," she says. Even if the store you frequent gets its fruits and veggies from a reputable vendor, can you be sure that the products haven't been contaminated in transit? As one Reddit user pointed out, "If you assume it's clean when you pick it up then you're assuming that everything went exactly as planned at every point in the process from tree to store."

2. The average supermarket apple is over a year old

No matter where they are in the stack, you shouldn't count on apples being fresh from the orchard. The fruits ripen during a very short period in the United States (between August and September), so keeping them in stores the rest of the year requires that the apples be treated with chemicals and kept in cold storage. In a warehouse setting, they often sit at least 9 to 12 month, and one investigation showed that, on average, apples are 14 months old.

3. Employees often don't follow health policies

According to our reader, Melanie, supermarket staff should be wearing gloves and personal protective gear like a hair net or hat before handling ready-to-eat produce, though if you look around your local store, it's clear that that often doesn't happen. Like with any establishment that pays low wages, it's risky to count on employees to follow health standards, like frequent hand washing.

Washing Produce

4. Your fellow customers are also part of the problem

We've heard some pretty horrific accounts of customers spreading germs at the grocery store. From letting kids touch items, then put them back, to grown adults coughing or sneezing into their hand, then continuing to rummage through the produce, there are just too many factors out of your control that could lead to food contamination. "You simply cannot trust the fellow customer to make the right choices in what they are handling," Melanie says.

5. Some fruits and veggies are especially risky

Before filling up your shopping cart, check the Environmental Working Group's "Dirty Dozen" list of popular fruits and vegetables with high pesticide levels. Strawberries, apples, nectarines, peaches and celery are some of the worst culprits, and Chef Melanie also named melons as risky for food-borne illness due to their porous skin, which can hold tons of bacteria and germs. Make sure to scrub them good before eating!

 

What can you do to ensure the cleanest fruit and vegetables make it to your table? 

 

Kangen Water Machines

1. Buy Local

Even the most accomplished Kangen Gardener has to purchase fruits and veggies to supplement the growing season. Local produce is the second-best option to growing your own food. Buying local ensures that you are sampling the best selection of seasonally available produce. Seasonal produce is healthier and fresher, with the added advantage of saving you money since it doesn’t have to travel as far as out-of-season goods. Purchasing a share in a CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) is an awesome way to discover exactly what’s in season and support your local farmers.

However, there are times when a recipe calls for something that can’t be found locally. Always make sure to purchase certified organic produce to reduce your exposure to pesticides and GMO’s. Most grocery stores now carry a wide variety of organic fruits and vegetables making it easier than ever to eat cleaner, fresher food. Remember, once you bring home your produce, you should still wash it with Kangen Water® to remove airborne bacteria and viruses. 

2.  Wash Your Produce

 

Washing your produce is a must. Even organic produce isn’t protected from pathogens in dirt and germs from various hands checking for ripeness.  Use alkaline water from Kangen Water Machine to rinse your vegetables and fruit. The higher the pH of the water, the more effective it will be in detoxifying harmful bacteria, germs, and viruses. Simply fill a bowl with alkaline water, and let your fruits and vegetables soak in it for 20 – 30 minutes (longer is better). You will see the water turn a brownish color as the water is detoxifying your produce. Once your vegetables are done soaking, discard the dirty water, and rinse off your produce in fresh clean water.

Alkaline water is best for rinsing fruits and vegetables because it can neutralize many of the toxic residues that plain water can’t. Additionally, many people find that their vegetables actually taste better after soaking in the alkaline water as well. Because of this, you should consider a water ionizer to be an essential part of healthy eating, in addition to a healthy source of drinking water.

If you don't have the luxury or availability of organic produce it’s even more important to wash your fruits and veggies considering they have been treated with pesticides. Strong Kangen Water® is powerful enough to break apart the pesticide, leaving your food clean and chemical-free. Tap water itself can’t clean your produce and produce sprays are expensive and leave an aftertaste on the more porous produce. Using your Kangen® machine in the kitchen is the healthiest and most cost-effective way to clean your produce!

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Serving the Healthiest Fruits and Vegetables