Pesticides on Produce: Answering Your FAQs

The mass of conflicting statements, even on resources within government agencies, has revealed more questions than answers on how pesticides affect human health, but there are ways to reduce exposure

Oct 10, 2024

I have more tabs open than I can count right now: the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Toxicology Program, and the World Health Organization, to name a few.

I’ve been researching this article for days, and frankly, I’m frustrated.

There’s so much misinformation in the health and wellness space. I wanted to compile the facts and create a reference guide answering all of your questions about pesticides on produce:

What are the risks of eating produce treated with pesticides?
Can pesticides cause cancer?
If they’re toxic, why are they legal?
Are pesticides used in organic farming?
Can pesticides be washed off?

The mass of conflicting statements, even on resources within government agencies, has revealed more questions than answers about how pesticides affect human health and who influences the decisions in our food supply.

Here’s a disturbing example.

Glyphosate is an herbicide, one of the most widely used weed killers in the United States. You may be familiar with it as the active chemical in Roundup.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer identifies Glyphosate as Probably Carcinogenic (cancer-causing) to Humans.1

The Environmental Protection Agency says, “There are no risks of concern to human health.” and “EPA also found that Glyphosate is unlikely to be a human carcinogen.”2

Bayer, who purchased Monsanto - the original producers of Roundup, has a page on their website dedicated to the thousands of lawsuits connecting Roundup to cancer - most commonly, Non-Hodgkins lymphoma.3

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has found residue of Glyphosate on foods containing oats and chickpeas.4

So here’s how I’m approaching it: I will err on the side of caution and do everything I can to limit our pesticide exposure - for a few reasons.

Health Risks

According to The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, scientific studies have linked pesticides to risk for Parkinson’s disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and shingles, among other health issues. Children are more at risk of neurodevelopmental effects.5

Corruption, Bureaucracy, and Distrust

With the corruption and bureaucracy in the agencies responsible for keeping our food safe, we cannot trust that we’re not ingesting toxic, harmful chemicals from conventionally grown foods.

The health risk is real for consumers in the United States as long as corporate lobbyists can influence politicians with financial contributions.

The Case of Chlorpyrifos

Let’s zoom in on the past eight years of regulatory proceedings for a widely used insecticide, chlorpyrifos.

November 2016

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completes a Human Health Risk Assessment6 on Chlorpyrifos, stating:

“Dietary risks from food alone are of concern.”
“There is sufficient evidence of neurodevelopmental effects occurring.”
“Children (1-2 years old) are the population subgroup with the highest risk estimate.”

Note: Chlorpyrifos is banned in the European Union as well as states within the US, including Hawaii, Maryland, New York, Oregon, and California.7

December 2016

Dow Chemical, the manufacturer of Chlorpyrifos, contributes $1 million to Donald Trump’s inaugural committee.8

February 2017

Former President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order on Regulatory Reform, advocating for reducing the "regulatory burden" on industries. Among the executives present was Andrew Liveris, CEO of Dow Chemical.

"And so, with the signing of this executive order, I would like to just congratulate everybody behind me. And, Andrew, I'd like to thank you for initially getting the group together." — Former President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.9

After signing, Trump jokingly hands the pen to Liveris, saying, "Should I give this pen to Andrew? Dow Chemical. (Laughter.) I think maybe, right?"

March 2017

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt reversed the Obama administration's steps to ban chlorpyrifos, stating, "By reversing the previous Administration's steps to ban one of the most widely used pesticides in the world, we are returning to using sound science in decision-making."

Note: Pruitt resigned less than one year later under fourteen separate federal investigations, including conflicts of interest.10

June 2017

The American Academy for Pediatrics and Environmental Working Group sent a letter to the EPA expressing concern at the agency’s decision to continue to allow Chlorpyrifos despite the known risks.11

“We are writing to express concern at the agency’s recent reversal on its proposal to revoke tolerances for chlorpyrifos. In particular, we are deeply alarmed that the EPA’s decision to allow the continued use of chlorpyrifos contradicts the agency’s own science and puts developing fetuses, infants, children, and pregnant women at risk.” —American Academy for Pediatrics & EWG Letter to EPA

April 2021

After a group of health and labor organizations filed a lawsuit, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ordered the EPA to ban Chlorpyrifos or modify the tolerances to levels they could prove safe, including for infants and children, within sixty days.12

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Case No. 19-71982 Summary:

“The EPA has recognized that when pregnant mothers are exposed to chlorpyrifos residue, this likely harms infants in utero.
The panel held that the EPA spent more than a decade assembling a record of chlorpyrifos’s ill effects and repeatedly determined, based on that record, that it could not conclude, to the statutorily required standard of reasonable certainty, that the present tolerances caused no harm. Rather than ban the pesticide or reduce the tolerances to levels that the EPA could find were reasonably certain to cause no harm, the EPA sought to evade through delay tactics its plain statutory duty.”

August 2021

Finally, as a result of the April ruling, the EPA banned all food uses of Chlorpyrifos 🎉13

November 2023

A group of growers and a Chlorpyrifos registrant appealed the previous ruling. The court ruled to send the issue of Chlorpyrifos tolerances back to the EPA for further review without a specific timeframe or instructions.

December 2023

The EPA announced growers can now use Chlorpyrifos products on all crops with the reinstated tolerances.14

October 2024

Here’s where we stand today. On October 1, 2024, “EPA Announces Next Steps to Protect Endangered Species from Chlorpyrifos.”15

In 2022, the EPA determined that chlorpyrifos had the potential to jeopardize one or more species, which was a violation of the Endangered Species Act. In response, they’re updating product labels with updated measures to reduce runoff and spray drift to the endangered species habitats.

Endangered species. I can’t make this stuff up.

Oh, and they’re posting some bulletins.

Chlorpyrifos is just one example. According to Earth Justice who represented the health and labor organizations in the April 2021 lawsuit opposing the EPA, there are dozens of harmful organophosphates used in fruits and vegetables in the United States.

"Chlorpyrifos is just one among an entire class of chemicals known as organophosphate pesticides (OP), including sarin nerve gas. First developed by the Nazis for chemical warfare, OPs were later repurposed for agricultural uses. Dozens of organophosphates are used in fruits and vegetables in the United States."16

Toxins Accumulate in the Body

Even if we could trust our exposure to pesticides is small, researchers now recognize that toxins accumulate in the body.

We’re absorbing environmental toxins everywhere and from nearly everything we encounter. This contributes to oxidative stress17, a source of chronic inflammation, cell damage, and disease.18

A resource from the Institute for Functional Medicine states “obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cancer, infertility, allergies, behavior and mood disorders, neurological conditions, and cognitive difficulties, along with several other diseases like Parkinson's and dementia.” are symptoms related to the buildup of toxins.19

We can reduce our body’s total toxic burden by:

Reducing exposure to toxins
Eating nutritious foods that support the body’s natural detoxification process

Consuming fewer pesticides on fruits and vegetables supports both.

Eat Your Veggies

If you think it’d be best to skip your veggies, the nutrients in fruits and vegetables are foundational to a healthy lifestyle. Essential nutrients found in plants support the body’s natural detoxification process. Phytonutrients like antioxidants reduce oxidative stress.

In Functional Medicine, food is medicine. A diverse selection of colorful fruits and vegetables is essential for health. The benefits of the nutrients found in these vibrant foods far outweigh the potential risks of pesticides. And there are ways to reduce your exposure to pesticides.

How to Limit Exposure to Pesticides on Produce

Whenever possible, choose organic. Organic farmers have to follow strict regulations prohibiting most synthetic pesticides.20

Studies show that organically grown foods are typically higher in nutrients like antioxidants, which makes them even more beneficial for the body’s natural detoxification system and overall health.21

Spending Less on Organic Produce

That being said, Organic is typically more expensive. With the cost of groceries, choosing organic may not always be accessible. The Environmental Working Group and Consumer Reports offer resources to help you prioritize if you want to include a combination of organic and conventionally grown produce in your diet.

The EWG’s Dirty Dozen & Clean 15 Lists

Every year, the Environmental Working Group publishes two lists—the Dirty Dozen™ and the Clean Fifteen™.

The Dirty Dozen™ lists twelve fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide residue. Prioritize organic with these items.

The Clean Fifteen™ are fifteen fruits and vegetables with minimal pesticide residue, making them a solid choice for conventionally grown.

Check the Frozen Section

The price of produce depends on your location and what’s in season. If fresh is pricey, consider frozen options. Because they’re frozen quickly after harvest, frozen fruits and vegetables often have excellent nutritional value.

Explore Produce Delivery Options

Explore produce delivery options like Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods. These services fight food waste by rescuing misshapen or oddly sized produce. They offer produce at prices that are often lower than those at the grocery store. We use Misfits and have been very happy with the selection and quality.

Washing Produce

Whether organic or conventionally grown, always wash your fruits and vegetables. This can help reduce surface-level pesticide residue, dirt, germs, and bacteria.

Even foods with a peel or rind, like melon, need to be washed before being cut. Otherwise, the knife can transfer pesticides or bacteria from the surface into the edible part of the fruit.

Here are some tips for washing produce:

Rinse fruits and vegetables in a colander under cold running water for several minutes. The friction can help rinse away some of the grime.
You can also use Castile soap, which is non-toxic and residue-free. The plant oils in Dr. Bronner’s pure Castile soap (Coconut, Jojoba, Olive, and Hemp) can help break down surface-level gunk.
Use a brush to scrub firm foods like celery, melons, and root vegetables like potatoes.
Use your hands to gently scrub more delicate foods like berries or tomatoes.
Remove and discard the outer leaves of lettuce and cabbage

Here’s a great demonstration video from Dr. Bronner’s:

Takeaways:

We covered a lot in this article. Let’s recap with some takeaways.

Pesticides are chemicals used on crops to control pests like weeds, insects, and fungi. Many pesticides are harmful to human health and the environment.
Toxins accumulate in the body and contribute to chronic disease. We can reduce our toxic burden by reducing our exposure to toxins and supporting the body’s natural detoxification system.
The nutrients found in fruits and vegetables are essential to human health and support the body’s internal detoxification process.
We can reduce exposure to pesticides in produce by choosing organic when possible, prioritizing organic when fruits and vegetables are on the EWG’s Dirty Dozen™, and washing produce to reduce surface-level pesticide residue.

Lastly, if all of this feels overwhelming, I’ve been there. You don’t have to overhaul your life overnight. We’re not striving for perfection. Any small step you can take to reduce your exposure to toxins and eat healthful foods is a positive step in supporting your health!

Wishing you well,
Alyssa

What’s one step you can take this week to reduce your toxic exposure? Let me know in the comments.