The Israel Union for Environmental Defense is taking advantage of summer fruit season, days ahead of Rosh Hashanah, to increase awareness to pesticide levels in fruits. According to the report 90% of the grapes examined tested positive for traces of pesticides. The organization is however quick to clarify that the pros of eating summer fruits outweigh the cons since the levels of pesticides are minimal. However, the union is pushing the issue in the hope of increasing monitoring of farmers and their use of pesticide agents.
Of all the summer fruits, grapes have the highest percentage of pesticide residue, over 90% as compared to peaches and pears (75%), apricots and nectarines (66%).
The union feels the Ministry of Health should publicize the figures, listing them by the items sold in major supermarkets nationwide to permit consumers to make an educated decision as to what fruits and vegetables they wish to bring into their homes.
The environmental organization stresses the importance of fruits and vegetables in one’s diet and continues working to protect consumers and the environment.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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Scientists suggest that the amount of pesticide allowed to remain on food should be lowered. Because if growers applied every pesticide permitted on every crop, and if the maximum allowed residue remained on every crop, the cancer risk from food would be substantial. But researchers suggest that the risk can be minimised in case of some vegetables by following simple procedures like those mentioned below:
In case of tomatoes most residues are lost if peeled; for potatoes, peeling removes some, but not all residue; for oranges most pesticide residue is in the peel; for lettuce, discard outer leaves, wash inner ones; for apples mostly laced with alar, this can’t be washed or processed out; for peaches, washing and peeling recommended; for beans, washing is not enough, they have to be blanched; for carrots, washing, peeling and then cooking to remove residues.