Washing alone cannot completely clean fruits and vegetables. Some pesticide residues still remain on the surface of produce. The only solution is to peel the skin.
Accordingly, a group of Chinese researchers has published detailed results from experiments demonstrating that pesticides can still cling to food after washing.
Washing alone does not remove all pesticide residues. (Illustrative image: Getty).
They designed a procedure to monitor pesticide levels on fruits and vegetables using nano cellulose film and silver nanoparticles (NWCM-Ag) and found that washing does not completely eliminate pesticides.
Using imaging techniques with the NWCM-Ag layer, the research team concluded that pesticides can penetrate the skin and reach the pulp, and the only way to significantly reduce pesticide contamination is by peeling.
This research is part of food safety measures aimed at guiding consumers on how to protect their health. According to the researchers, previously, thorough washing was recommended to remove pesticides, but now they suggest that peeling is necessary to eliminate nearly all pesticide residues.
The results of this study align with findings from the Consumer Report published in May 2024, which indicated that 20% of 59 types of fruits and vegetables had significant pesticide residues. This report is based on data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The annual Pesticide Data Program report for 2022 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture concluded that 99% of the food tested had pesticide residues within acceptable limits. However, the Consumer Report argues that the allowable levels set by government agencies are too high.
If you disregard legal regulations regarding what constitutes safe or acceptable levels, you may find that washing with water cannot remove all pesticide residues, and the decision to peel or not before eating is yours.
