All Consuming: Critics dispute list of 'Dirty Dozen' fruits, vegetables

By Susan Salisbury

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Since 1995, the Environmental Working Group has garnered a lot of attention with the annual release of its so-called "Dirty Dozen" list of fruits and vegetables found to be "highest in pesticides."

Now critics, including food scientists at the University of California, Davis, are saying: Wait a minute.

Their scientific paper published recently in The Journal of Toxicology casts doubt on some of EWG's claims.

It matters because EWG's "Shopper's Guide to Pesticides" is said to be influential in the buying decisions of millions of consumers.

The critics' message is: Relax and eat your blueberries, apples, celery and other favorites, even if they are not organically grown. There's no scientific proof that residues at the levels detected pose a risk to consumers. On top of that, there's no evidence that eating organic produce has any health benefits that surpass those of conventionally grown produce.

In fact, EWG's methodology does not appear to follow any established scientific procedures, say the study's authors, Carl Winter, director of the university's FoodSafe program and a toxicologist, and Josh Katz, a fourth-year doctoral student.

EWG contends that consumers can lower their pesticide consumption by nearly four-fifths by avoiding conventionally grown varieties of the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables. But the UC Davis scientists say EWG made no effort to quantify actual consumer exposure to the pesticides.

Another point the scientists make is that organic produce isn't necessarily pesticide-free. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Pesticide Data Program, which EWG uses as the basis for its data, indicated that 23 percent of organic food samples tested positive for pesticide residues.

Organic growers use pesticides, too

Longtime Belle Glade grower Paul Orsenigo, vice president of Grower's Management Inc., said the public's perception is that organic growers do not use any chemicals, but that's not true. Organic and conventional growers use many of the same fungicides and other treatments approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Orsenigo's operation farms lettuces, such as romaine, bibb and Boston, as well as parsley, green beans, sweet corn and sugar cane in western Palm Beach County.

"Many products are used by both. These are things that cannot be disputed," he said. "My point is, organic growers have a whole arsenal of materials that are EPA--registered that are pesticides that are used on crops that are organically produced."

A products database at www.agrian.com shows there are 423 products, such as fungicides, that can be used by organic and non-organic growers. Of course, many products for conventionally grown crops are not permitted on organic crops. But all must meet strict EPA standards.

"They are all EPA-approved," Orsenigo said. "You could have residue on an apple that came from a product such as Oxidate or Champ or something else that is approved for organic production. To say that organic food has fewer residues that may or may not be true."

He said consumers should buy produce grown in the U.S., where there are standards about what growers can use. If there is a problem, it can be traced back.

"Our philosophy is that we use pesticides judiciously and wisely," he said. "We are on a program that includes regular scouting of our crops and looking for pests, trends and patterns.

"We want to grow the kind of crops the consumer is going to buy. They are not going to eat an ear of corn with a worm in it or a head of lettuce that is infected."

123,016 servings of 'dirty' celery OK

EWG's response to those critical of its Dirty Dozen list is that the produce industry feels threatened by the rapid growth of the organic produce industry.

EWG believes Big Produce's motivation is profits and the threat posed by the rapid growth in the organic industry's market share, which jumped from 3 percent in 2000 to 11.4 percent in 2009 (even higher for some particular fruits and vegetables), EWG states on its website.

The produce industry has defended itself with its own pesticide calculator, available at http://safefruitsand

Dirty Dozen

Environmental Working Group's list of produce highest in pesticides:

Apples Celery Strawberries Peaches Spinach Nectarines (imported) Grapes (imported) Sweet bell peppers Potatoes Blueberries (domestic) Lettuce Kale/collard greens

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'Dirty Dozen' produce debate continues

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says, "Make half your plate fruits and vegetables," in its latest dietary guidelines, but a just-published list of the 12 most pesticide-laden produce could confuse those deciding what is both healthful and safe to eat.

Topping the "Dirty Dozen" for 2011 are apples, celery and strawberries. Data for the list came from produce sampled between 2000 and 2009 from both domestic and imported sources and from around the country. Though the amounts of pesticides are well below established limits, analysts with the Environmental Working Group, who compiled the list, say they're too high.

"It only means the pesticide levels are within legal limits. It does not mean they are safe," Sara Sciammacco, of the Environmental Working Group, said, citing recent studies linking childhood pesticide exposure to problems with brain development, lower IQ and increasing incidence of ADHD.

But Holly Herrington, a registered dietitian at Northwestern University, urges caution in interpreting the studies, and said, "So far, there is not a lot of research to support these findings."

A study published earlier this year in the peer-reviewed Journal of Toxicology, using the same USDA data from 2004 to 2008, said scientists found the levels of pesticides in 90 percent of cases from the 2010 Dirty Dozen were at least 1,000 times lower than the chronic reference dose — the concentration of a chemical a person could be exposed to on a daily basis throughout life before risking harm.

A person would need to eat "so much (of the produce on the Dirty Dozen) you can't even imagine," said Dr. Marion Nestle, author and professor of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University.

Still, for those trying to limit their exposure to pesticides, the Environmental Working Group recommends choosing organic produce whenever possible.

But Herrington points out that organic does not necessarily mean pesticide-free. The USDA allows pesticide use on organic crops, though "the pesticides in organic agriculture are mostly natural, meaning they are found in nature and less toxic," Nestle said.

Here are some questions and answers from experts on pesticide exposure:

Q: Will washing remove pesticides?

A: The Dirty Dozen list came from produce that was washed for 10 seconds under cold water. "The USDA always recommends people wash their fruits and vegetables," said spokesman Michael T. Jarvis. Herrington said washing produce can remove "some but not all of the pesticides."

Q: Should produce be peeled to eliminate pesticides? Will this reduce the nutritional value?

A: "If the amount of pesticide is so small that it can barely be measured, it really doesn't matter much," said Nestle. "If people are concerned, they should scrub the apple or peel it."

Herrington said no nutrition is lost in peeling an apple. "The inner part of the apple is still very healthy for you," she said. "You can throw away the outer leaves of a leafy vegetable and wash it."

Q: Should families give up the worst produce?

A: "No.?The amounts of pesticides are usually small and people who eat fruits and vegetables, with or without pesticides, are healthier than those who do not," Nestle said.

"If the choice is between a bag of potato chips and a conventional apple, we advise consumers to go with the apple every time. The health benefits of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables outweigh the risks of pesticide exposure," said Sciammacco.

Herrington said: "Americans are just not getting enough fruits and vegetables. Eating four to five servings of conventional produce with pesticides is still better than not (eating any) at all."

xcxkapril@tribune.com

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Apples Receive Top Honors on 'Dirty Dozen' List

By Deirdre Imus

Published June 22, 2011

| FoxNews.com

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit consumer advocacy group, recently released their annual “Dirty Dozen” list of pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables.?

This year, for the first time, apples ascend to the top of the list as the most chemically-contaminated produce.

Everyone understands that a healthy diet is one that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables. But some produce contains more pesticide residue than others and limiting that exposure is vitally important.

Using government data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the EWG tested more than 700 apples and found pesticides on 98 percent of those sampled. Even after washing, 92 percent of the apples tested had two or more pesticide residues detected. You can’t wash away pesticides in the fruit. The fruit’s structure has been compromised, so even if you peel an apple or wash it, the pesticides are in the cellular structure because they have been grown in a poison environment.

“We think what’s happening to apples is more pesticides and fungicides are being applied after the harvest so the fruit can have a longer shelf life,” Sonya Lunder, EWG senior analyst told USA Today.

In their 2011 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, the EWG evaluated 53 fruits and vegetables and ranked them based on their pesticide residue. These are the fruits and vegetables you must buy organic because of their high levels of poison.

The Dirty Dozen
1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches
5. Spinach
6. Nectarines (imported)
7. Grapes (imported)
8. Sweet bell peppers
9. Potatoes
10. Blueberries (domestic)
11. Lettuce
12. Kale/collard greens

(A complete list of all 53 fruits and vegetables tested is available at www.ewg.org/foodnews/list/ )
If you are routinely buying your family these conventionally-grown produce then you are probably putting a lot of pesticides on their plate.

For years there has been growing concerns about repeated exposures and the cumulative effect of poisonous pesticides – even in small amounts – and their impact on human health, especially the health of young children. Studies have suggested a possible association between pesticide exposure and numerous serious conditions including cancer, neurological problems and endocrine system disruption. A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers found even modest exposure to certain pesticides during pregnancy can influence an infant’s size and birth weight.

These are all good reasons for switching to organic fruits and vegetables.

Too often I hear people complain that organics are more expensive than conventionally-grown produce. Ok, how expensive is that supersized chemically flavored, genetically modified, popcorn and soda served up with the latest blockbuster? It is affordable, but you need to prioritize; make a grocery list and make sure fruits and vegetables are at the top of the list. Buy that organic apple versus a bag of chips.

We need to make our children’s health a priority. Parents who are concerned about protecting their children from potential health risks associated with harmful and unnecessary pesticide exposure should buy only organic produce and make it part of their daily diet.

Deirdre Imus is the Founder and President of The Deirdre Imus Environmental Health CenterTM at Hackensack University Medical Center and Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer. Deirdre is the author of four books, including three national bestsellers. She is a frequent speaker on green living and children’s health issues, and is a contributor to FoxNewsHealth.com. For more information go to www.dienviro.com

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