The average American now eats 26 pounds more fresh fruits and vegetables per year than ten years ago. The typical produce section currently stocks over five times the number of items displayed a decade ago: The increased availability and variety of fresh fruits and vegetables is, in part due to the extensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Yet residues of these agricultural chemicals can remain in our food. The fruits and vegetables in your supermarket may contain invisible hazards to your health in the form of residues of pesticides.
To minimize exposure to pesticide residues on food the following steps would be helpful to follow:
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Scrub vegetables and fruits before eating to remove dirt, bacteria and pesticides
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Select and buy produce without damaged surfaces or holes
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Remove outer leaves of leafy vegetables
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Eat a variety of produce and foods to reduce exposure to any one pesticide15
Buying and consuming organic fruits and vegetables can avoid the risk of consuming foods that have been sprayed with pesticides.
