Washing fruits and vegetables is a good start, but not a complete solution to eliminate all pesticides

BY KHADIJA KARIM

When you go to the grocery store and pick out fresh fruits and vegetables, you think that washing them with water will make them perfectly clean. However, it turns out that washing fruit doesn’t always remove all the antibiotics it contains.

To give you an idea, pesticides are chemicals used by farmers to protect their crops from pests and diseases. Those fruits and vegetables look gorgeous, fresh and ready to eat!, but they can also leave residue on the fruit. This residue can be very difficult to remove even after washing. One reason washing doesn’t always work is that some pesticides like to stick to fruits and vegetables. Water alone is not enough to eliminate these chemicals.

Another problem is that not all fruits and vegetables have the same skin tone. For example, fruits with thick skins, such as bananas, or oranges, prevent water from reaching the bottom layer of pesticides. On the other hand, thin-skinned fruits like apples, or berries can be hardier because their skin can trap pesticides near the surface.

To truly understand pesticide residues, it’s important to use more than just water. Some people use liquid rinses that are designed to help remove chemicals more effectively, and you can also peel fruits to get rid of pesticides. For example, if you peel an apple, you can get rid of some of the pesticides left on the skin. However, peeling can also remove some of the best nutrients we need so it’s not always the best option to choose.

In conclusion, washing fruits and vegetables is a good start, but not a complete solution to eliminate all pesticides. Using fruit and vegetable bleach and crop extracts is a great way to reduce pesticide exposure. Always remember it’s important to still eat your fruits and vegetables!