How To Remove Pesticides From Vegetables and Fruits Naturally

One lasting lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic has been about the importance of health. Without a healthy body, we cannot function well in any aspect of our lives. But how do we maintain good health?

Food is definitely one of the most important factors. Whether you notice or not, we are what we eat and the food choices we make influence our physical, mental and even emotional well-being.

Nowadays, almost everyone knows we should eat more healthy foods like vegetables and fruits. But surprisingly, not all people realize that it is also crucial to clean them properly.

Washing produce is essential because it reduces the risk of food-borne illnesses from pesticides used in crop cultivation. In fact, we should wash all of the fresh produce we buy.

What You Need To Know About Pesticides

Pesticides are active substances used to prevent, control or kill pests and disease-carriers such as mosquitoes, rats, and mice. In agriculture, they are used to control weeds, insect infestations, and disease to maintain food supply. Glyphosate, a common herbicide, inhibits weed growth on conventional crops and has been linked to cancer risk and endocrine disruption. Insecticides, a type of pesticide, are used on produce to control insects. Organophosphates in particular may damage the developing brains of children.

Risks From Pesticide Exposure

Exposure to pesticides carries serious risks. Plenty of research has demonstrated a link between pesticides and several conditions such as:

• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Parkinson’s
• Alzheimer’s
• birth defects
• Reproductive disorders
• Asthma

Pesticide exposure especially affects pregnant women and children. Research has shown children are at higher risk for pesticide toxicity than adults.

Their developing brains are more susceptible to pesticides. Studies indicate children whose mothers were exposed to high levels of pesticides tend to have lower IQs and an increased risk for chronic conditions, including learning and behavioural problems.

Related article: The Harmful Effects of Chemical Fertilizers and Pesticides

Organic Produce: A Better Option, But Not Always Pesticide-Free

One way to reduce exposure to pesticides is by buying organic food when possible over non-organic options. Still, even organic produce can have pesticides and chemicals. Organic farmers still may use them because they are effective at killing weeds and pests. However, the pesticides they use are different from the ones non-organic farmers use. Most of the pesticides used in organic farms are regulated. For example, in the US, conventional farmers are allowed to use 900 different synthetic pesticides whereas organic farmers are only allowed to use 25 synthetic pesticides.

Still, there is one common misconception about organic produce: people tend to think they are grown naturally and chemical free. But nearly all organic farmers use pesticides because they also have to face the problem of weeds, pesticides and diseases. The good news is, the pesticides they use are different from the ones used by their conventional counterparts. Most of the pesticides used in organic farms are regulated and they are natural in origin. For example, in the U.S., conventional farmers are allowed to use 900 different synthetic pesticides whereas organic farmers are only allowed to use 25 synthetic pesticides.

Nevertheless, since there are still pesticides in organic produce, we must wash our vegetables and fruits properly to maintain good health.

How To Naturally Clean Vegetables and Fruits

1. Wash the produce with tap water
2. Rub it while washing
3. If possible, then use salt water, vinegar water, or baking soda water to wash or soak your produce

What is the Best Method of Washing?

People usually wash or rinse vegetables and fruits under a running tap and this works well for removing some forms of pesticides. A study from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station found that washing them with running water reduced 9 of the 12 tested pesticides. The found rubbing the produce while washing it helped to eliminate pesticides. Some people use produce cleaners, but research has shown most of them are no more effective than plain water.

If you want vegetables and fruit to be the cleanest they can be, it may take more than water because pesticides are designed to stick to produce. Several liquids are more effective than water and you can usually find the ingredients at home to make them yourself. Some to try are salt water, vinegar water and baking soda water.

In a study published in Food Control, researchers used salt water, vinegar and plain water to remove residue from chlorpyrifos, DDT, cypermethrin and chlorothalonil (all pesticides). They discovered that both 10% salt water and vinegar are more effective than plain water. However, using vinegar affected the taste, making it less ideal. On the other hand, salt water is easier and more cost-effective. Another study published in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry compared the effectiveness of bleach solution, baking soda water and plain water. The baking soda solution was only a mix of one ounce of baking soda with 100 ounces of water and it took 12- 15 minutes of soaking the produce to remove all the pesticides residues. Among the options, the baking soda solution was the most effective and it was even effective at getting rid of residue beneath the skin of apples. 

How to Wash Produce Based on Type

If you have free time, soaking produce in salt, vinegar, and/or baking soda solutions will ensure the removal of more pesticides. But on an ordinary day, people don’t have much time to do more than wash vegetables and fruits for a few minutes. Here are some methods for both quick and effective results.

• Leafy greens and other veggies

Fill a salad spinner or a bowl with water, add a teaspoon of baking soda, and mix well. Then soak your greens for a minute, rinse, and spin or pat dry. For veggies like zucchini, you can scrub the surface.

• Mushrooms

Scrub mushrooms with a brush and rinse them under running water. Pat the mushrooms dry with a clean kitchen towel.

• Fruits

For fruits with smooth skin, such as apples, use the same washing method as leafy greens. For berries, rinse them with cold water right before eating. If you rinse them too far in advance, the excess moisture will accelerate mold production. 

Which Vegetables and Fruits to Buy Organic

If you can, try to buy organic for all produce. But if this is not possible due to budget and other constraints, there are certain vegetables and fruits you should prioritize buying organic for.

The Environmental Working Group maintains lists of the most and least contaminated produce. 

The list of the most contaminated produce is known as the ‘Dirty Dozen’:

• Strawberries
• Spinach
• Nectarines
• Apples
• Grapes
• Peaches
• Cherries
• Pears
• Tomatoes
• Celery
• Kale
• Potatoes

The list of the least contaminated produce is known as the ‘Clean 15’:

• Avocados
• Sweet corn
• Pineapples
• Cabbage
• Onions
• Sweet peas (frozen)
• Papayas
• Asparagus
• Broccoli
• Eggplant
• Honeydew
• Kiwi
• Cantaloupe
• Cauliflower
• Mushrooms

Takeaway: Choose Organic Produce & Wash Them Thoroughly

While it is better to buy organic, always wash your produce properly using the methods listed. Although it seems a lot of work, it only takes a few minutes for you to make your vegetables and fruits cleaner.