Approved pesticides are used in the agriculture industry to keep insects and other animals at bay during growing stages. But are these pesticides truly safe when combined?
A fully vegan or vegetarian diet has been promoted as the most healthy and sustainable way to obtain optimal nutrition while being kinder to the planet.
While this is true – removing meat and dairy products from your diet can reduce an individual carbon footprint by up to 73 percent – fruit and veggie lovers may have something else to be worried about.
According to tests conducted by Pesticide Action Network (PAN) in the UK, at least 122 different pesticides were found in just twelve different types of fruits and vegetables on sale in supermarkets.
Individually, these pesticides are considered safe to use on growing food that will be sold in store. But the mixing of various pesticides is where health concerns begin to mount, as it creates ‘chemical cocktails’ within the produce you buy and the surrounding soil in which in grows.
Of the sampled fruit and vegetables tested by PAN, the top five most contaminated are: grapes, oranges, dried fruits, herbs, and pears. The combined chemicals found have been labelled as toxic carcinogens, with at least six others known to interfere with reproductive health and hormone balances.
A thorough rinse can help get rid of some pesticide residue on the outside layer, but most modern pesticides are ‘systemic’, meaning they absorb into the plant and its tissues, becoming a new ingredient within that deliciously tasty orange juice.
Nick Mole, from PAN, said that ‘consumers presume that their food has been through rigorous testing and that if an item is available for sale in the UK then it must be safe.’
He continued, ‘unfortunately, this is not necessarily the case. We actually have very limited understanding of the long-term impacts to human health from consuming small amounts of tens of different pesticides every day of our lives.’
Credit: Organic Trade Board
So, if giving up meat and cheese (which are known to contain antibiotics) means munching primarily on fruit and vegetables packed full of ‘chemical cocktails’, it begs the question, are we not safe anywhere?
You might already know that there is one simple way to limit your inadvertent pesticide intake: by buying organic. Unfortunately, the marked-up price on organic goods makes this impossible for most people in the UK to do regularly.
And though I’m partial to an impromptu trip to Whole Foods shortly after payday, Gen-Z’ers who are still in school or starting out in their career might find this unrealistic while trying to pinch their pennies.
In such cases, consumers are encouraged to purchase UK grown produce, as well as from EU countries where protective pesticide regimes are the strictest in the world.
PAN UK has also suggested the best way to rid our fruits and vegetables of these ‘chemical cocktails’ is to campaign against their use during the farming stages and encourage safer alternatives, like companion planting and biocontrol.
Until stricter agricultural measures are put in place, raising awareness, and buying locally grown, in-season fruit looks to be the best option for avoiding ingesting a multitude of pesticides.
Deputy Editor & Content Partnership ManagerLondon, UK
I’m Jessica (She/Her). I’m the Deputy Editor & Content Partnership Manager at Thred. Originally from the island of Bermuda, I specialise in writing about ocean health and marine conservation, but you can also find me delving into pop culture, health and wellness, plus sustainability in the beauty and fashion industries. Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.
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