Current:Home > NewsPesticides pose a significant risk in 20% of fruits and vegetables, Consumer Reports finds -Nova Finance Academy
Pesticides pose a significant risk in 20% of fruits and vegetables, Consumer Reports finds
View
Date:2025-04-18 04:46:18
A healthy diet includes ample portions of fruits and vegetables, but not the unhealthy dose of pesticides found in about one in five of the produce examined by Consumer Reports.
An examination of 59 common fruits and vegetables found pesticides posed significant risks in 20% of them, from bell peppers, blueberries and green beans to potatoes and strawberries, according to findings published Thursday by the nonprofit consumer advocacy group.
In its most comprehensive review yet, CR said it analyzed seven years of data from the Department of Agriculture, which every year tests a selection of conventional and organic produce grown in or imported to the U.S. for pesticide residues.
"Our new results continue to raise red flags," CR said in its report. In addition to finding unhealthy levels of chemicals used by farmers to control bugs, fungi and weeds, one food — green beans — had residues of a pesticide that hasn't been allowed for use on vegetables in the U.S. for more than a decade.
Imported produce, especially from Mexico, was particularly likely to carry risky levels of pesticide residues, CR found.
The good news? There's no need to worry about pesticides in almost two-thirds of produce, including nearly all of the organic fruits and vegetables examined.
The analysis found broccoli to be a safe bet, for instance, not because the vegetable did not contain pesticide residues but because higher-risk chemicals were at low levels and on only a few samples.
Health problems arise from long-term exposure to pesticides, or if the exposure occurs during pregnancy or in early childhood, according to James Rogers, a microbiologist who oversees food safety at CR.
CR advises that shoppers limit exposure to harmful pesticides by using its analysis to help determine, for instance, when buying organic makes the most sense, given that it's often a substantially more expensive option.
The findings do not mean people need to cut out higher-risk foods from their diets completely, as eating them every now and again is fine, said Rogers. He advised swapping out white potatoes for sweet ones, or eating snap peas instead of green beans, as healthy choices, "so you're not eating those riskier foods every time."
"The best choice is to eat organic for the very high-risk items," Rogers told CBS MoneyWatch, citing blueberries as an example where paying more translates into less pesticides. "We recommend the USDA organic label because it's better regulated" versus organic imports, he added.
Thousands of workers become ill from pesticide poisonings each year, and studies have linked on-the-job use of a variety of pesticides with a higher risk of health problems including Parkinson's disease, breast cancer and diabetes.
Kate GibsonKate Gibson is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch in New York.
veryGood! (1)
Related
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- Kate Spade 24-Hour Flash Deal: Get This $330 Bucket Bag for Just $89
- New Report Expects Global Emissions of Carbon Dioxide to Rebound to Pre-Pandemic High This Year
- Warming Trends: Banning a Racist Slur on Public Lands, and Calculating Climate’s Impact on Yellowstone, Birds and Banks
- House passes bill to add 66 new federal judgeships, but prospects murky after Biden veto threat
- As Lake Powell Hits Landmark Low, Arizona Looks to a $1 Billion Investment and Mexican Seawater to Slake its Thirst
- Wife of Gilgo Beach murders suspect Rex Heuermann files for divorce as woman shares eerie encounter with him
- The Hollywood x Sugarfina Limited-Edition Candy Collection Will Inspire You To Take a Bite Out of Summer
- Bodycam footage shows high
- Police say they can't verify Carlee Russell's abduction claim
Ranking
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- Titanic Actor Lew Palter Dead at 94
- The FBI raided a notable journalist's home. Rolling Stone didn't tell readers why
- Northwestern athletics accused of fostering a toxic culture amid hazing scandal
- Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow owns a $3 million Batmobile Tumbler
- Here's how much money a grocery rewards credit card can save you
- Elon Musk reveals new ‘X’ logo to replace Twitter’s blue bird
- Biden’s Bet on Electric Vehicles Is Drawing Opposition from Republicans Who Fear Liberal Overreach
Recommendation
Questlove charts 50 years of SNL musical hits (and misses)
Jobs and Technology Take Center Stage at Friday’s Summit, With Biden Pitching Climate Action as a Boon for the Economy
Warming Trends: Why Walking Your Dog Can Be Bad for the Environment, Plus the Sexism of Climate Change and Taking Plants to the Office
Fish on Valium: A Multitude of Prescription Drugs Are Contaminating Florida’s Waterways and Marine Life
B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
Inside Clean Energy: Well That Was Fast: Volkswagen Quickly Catching Up to Tesla
Climate activists target nation's big banks, urging divestment from fossil fuels
Get a Next-Level Clean and Save 58% On This Water Flosser With 4,200+ 5-Star Amazon Reviews