Last week, several news outlets reported the results of a new study on pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables. Typically, the media couldn’t resist taking a shot at something out of the mainstream – in this case, organic foods. Here’s their “shocking” news, conveyed in nearly every headline: “pesticides found on organic produce!” Yet if you dig deep enough, you’ll find there’s plenty of evidence to show that organic is still the far safer choice – and that regular produce may actually be dangerous.
Organic under fire
I think that most of us who purchase organic foods are probably aware that “organic” doesn’t mean “perfection.” For instance, it’s no secret that certain pesticides and fertilizers that are considered “green” are allowed for crops that are certified organic. It’s also logical that in a world filled with contaminants, it’s easy for some of those contaminants to find their way onto organic farms. But the mainstream press still chose to convey this information in a way that makes it seem like we’ve all been duped.
“Think organic fruits and vegetables are free of pesticides? Think again. Almost a quarter of the organic produce in grocery stores could contain traces of pesticides, including long-banned chemicals like DDT, a new study finds.”
That’s the lead paragraph from MSNBC. And I’ll admit it’s all true. But when you read through the entire article, the facts take the steam out of their attention-grabbing opening.
The study in question was performed by the Consumers Union, an independent testing organization and publisher of Consumer Reports (don’t get me started!). They examined data from three sources: the Pesticide Data Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture; the Marketplace Surveillance Program of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation; and their own private tests.
The study examined 30 samples of organic fruit and 97 samples of organic vegetables. In both cases more than 75% of the samples showed no pesticide residue. The CU also examined data made available to them on 26,571 samples of fruits and vegetables produced on conventional farms. In this case almost 75% showed traces of pesticide residue. In addition, researchers also examined samples of so-called “green-labeled” foods (fruits and vegetables that are sold with claims of reduced pesticide use), finding pesticide residue on about half of those samples.
Less is more
So let’s back up and see what the study really showed. That’s right – conventional produce had THREE TIMES as much pesticide residues as organic fruits and vegetables. You’d think that would warrant a positive headline, wouldn’t you? And when you dig deeper into the data, you can see even more clearly that organic farms are doing an amazing job with the imperfect cards they’re dealt.
Here’s what I mean: When the scientists excluded organochlorine chemicals like DDT, which leave behind residues that can remain in the soil for decades, the synthetic pesticides found in organic produce dropped significantly – from 23% to 13%. Before a farm can grow produce capable of organic certification, it has to undergo a transition period – usually about 3 years – from conventional pesticide use to organic use. However, plants can still soak up remnants of these organochlorine pesticides (including DDT) decades after the farm has made the transition to organic. In addition, although organic farms generally have buffer zones separating them from conventional farms, it’s not unusual for chemicals to drift and contaminate organic farms. Obviously, this is not good news, but it’s important to understand that it’s almost impossible for organic foods to avoid picking up some trace of these contaminants.
Through these e-Alerts, I’ve recommended switching to organic produce and meats several times. And I’m not about to change my position because of this study. The headlines might lead the casual reader to conclude that the whole organic movement is bogus. But, we know the headlines only tell a small part of the story. No, organic farming is not perfect. In today’s world, no one can guarantee that their fruits and vegetables are entirely 100% chemical free – even if you grow them in your own backyard. But by buying organic, you’ll get produce that has a much smaller chance of being contaminated, and an even lower chance of being contaminated by more than one type of pesticide. That sounds like pretty good news to me.
To Your Good Health,
Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute
Sources:
Organic Trade Association: ota.com
Abstract: “Pesticide residues in conventional, integrated pest management (IPM)-grown and organic foods: insights from three US data sets” catchword.com
“Pesticides found on organic produce” msnbc.com
Copyright 1997-2002 by Institute of Health Sciences, L.L.C.
