Discounted fruits, vegetables available to Morton Grove seniors

By Cathryn Gran cgran@pioneerlocal.com August 12, 2011 11:08AM

Updated: August 12, 2011 11:08AM

Morton Grove has found a way to put fresh fruits and vegetables into the hands of its senior citizens.

The village has teamed up with Skokie, the Skokie Valley Senior Services and the Levy Center in Skokie to provide coupons seniors can use at the Morton Grove Farmers’ Market, explained Jackie Walker-O’Keefe, director of family and senior services for the village.

“This is our first year with the program,” she said. “The federal Farm Bill granted money to states to provide seniors with coupons to use at any farmers’ market.”

The program is open to single senior citizens with an annual income of less than $20,146. Couples must have an annual income of less than $27,213, according to the guidelines.

“Each eligible senior receives a book with seven, $3 coupons,” Walker-O’Keefe said. “And in addition to fruits and veggies, the Farmers’ Market has added honey this year, which also can be purchased with coupons.”

The market is open from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 15 in the parking lot at 8930 Waukegan Road.

Walker-O’Keefe said most vendors at the market will accept the coupons.

“Seniors can use the coupons as money, but they will not get back change,” she said. “They can use all the coupons in one shot or use them until the end of October.”

Fruits currently in season in Illinois include blackberries, blueberries and cantaloupes. Vegetables include corn, eggplant and cauliflower.

Applications for the program are available from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays at the Civic Center, 6140 Dempster St.

Additional information is available by calling (847) 470-5246.

c 2011 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit http://www.suntimesreprints.com/. To order a reprint of this article, click here.

View the original article here

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

View the original article here

Gardeners donate fruits, vegetables to combat hunger

???HIGHTSTOWN — Does your garden rock?

???Rise, a non-profit organization that fights poverty, recently initiated a new program that encourages locals to donate fresh fruits and vegetables harvested from their own gardens.

???”This is the time of year that people have their gardens overflowing,” said Leslie Koppel, executive director at Rise, located at 116 N. Main St., in Hightstown.

???Thus far, locals have brought in eggplants, cucumbers, squash and more from their gardens, she said. She hopes soon for peaches and apples.

???The program was conceptualized a few weeks ago in attempt to expose fresh fruits and vegetables to people with very limited incomes, she said

???”If we put the need out there, people will ‘rise’ to the need,” Ms. Koppel said, referring to the generous spirit of the East Windsor and Hightstown communities.

???She noted that fresh vegetables and fruits are the most expensive items for people to buy and store.

???Ranging from this new program, that encourages locals to donate home-grown produce, to an ongoing initiative to provide special Thanksgiving meals in November, Rise works to provide individuals and families with the one thing that many people take for granted: food.

???People are encouraged to donate fresh produce to the food pantry until the harvest this autumn.

???Regular donations are accepted yearlong.

???The food pantry is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and accepts donations from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Located at 225 Franklin St., in Hightstown, the pantry is open 51 weeks a year.

???The organization is also helping youngsters learn and have fun this July and August through its Hightstown-East Windsor Learning Partners-Summer HELP educational program.

???120 students are currently enrolled. These youngsters are providing a talent show and art display beginning 2 p.m. Aug. 11 at Grace N. Rogers Elementary School, 380 Stockton Street, in Hightstown. The public is invited at attend.

?? To learn more, visit www.rise-community-services.org.

View the original article here

Dearer vegetables, fruits push inflation up to 9.90%

Business Line : Markets / Commodities : Inflation surge dims hopes of rate hike pause SEARCH HomeCompaniesMarketsIndustry & EconomyOpinionFeaturesToday's PaperTopicsGet quote: Stock MarketsCommoditiesToday's PickGoldForex Inflation surge dims hopes of rate hike pause Our BureauShare??·??Comment??·??print ??·?? New Delhi, Aug. 11:?Food inflation surged sharply to its highest levels since mid-March, leaving little room for the RBI to soften its anti-inflationary stance despite moderating economic growth and indications of a global slowdown.

The annual Wholesale Price Index-based food inflation rose 9.9 per cent during the week ended July 30, sharply up from the previous week's annual level of 8.04 per cent. While this was largely on account of the base effect, products such as onions, fruits, vegetables and protein-based items too contributed to the surge. The rate of inflation in food items was recorded at 16.45 per cent in the last week of July 2010.

The RBI has already raised interest rates 11 times since March 2010 to tame headline inflation, which had surged to 9.44 per cent in June. Analysts expect headline inflation to remain above 9 per cent until October.

“A reversal in the RBI's monetary stance and focus on inflation management in the near term is unlikely, unless there is a sharp and sustained downtrend in commodity prices,” said Ms Aditi Nayar, an economist with ICRA. The RBI will meet on September 16 for its mid-quarter policy review.

Not acceptable: PranabWinding up the debate on the first batch of supplementary demands for grants in the Rajya Sabha, the Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, referring to the concerns on inflation, said, “If it is 9 per cent it is not acceptable. It (inflation) would have been ideal at 3.5 to 4 per cent ...even if we can keep it at 5-6 per cent (it will not be bad).”

anil@thehindu.co.in

Keywords: Food inflation,?costlier vegetables,?fruits,?WPI

Latest in this sectionGold, silver move up in weekly trade Geojit Com launches commodity futures trading on mobile platformEdible oils recover on festive demand, global cues Select commodity prices down Pepper futures nearly steady on limited activities
RelatedPHOTOS NEWSRate hike pause tied to inflation Coming to grips with inflation US downgrade can bring down inflation here: Kaushik Basu TOPICSeconomy (general)prices, inflation and deflation
economy, business and financeagricultureComments to: web.businessline@thehindu.co.in. Copyright c 2011, The Hindu Business Line.

View the original article here

Study: Rural residents aren't eating fruits, veggies

by Joanna Lin for California WatchCalifornia grows more produce than any other state, yet few of its residents -- especially those in rural areas -- eat the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables, according to research released Wednesday by the Essentia Institute of Rural Health.

In fact, California is among 37 states whose rural residents eat less produce than their city-dwelling counterparts, in spite of living closer to where food is grown, researchers found. The primary reasons? Access and cost.

"You don't just pick an apple off a tree and put it in a basket, and it's automatically available for sale and consumption," said Nawal Lutfiyya, author of the report and a senior research scientist at the institute, based in Minnesota. Oftentimes, she said, "those fruits and vegetables are already targeted for larger venues."

Rural communities typically have fewer outlets selling fresh produce, Lutfiyya said. Those that do often are small markets or convenience stores, where prices tend to be higher than they would be at grocery stores and supermarkets.

"Because of the higher cost, people are less likely to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables when they are available," she said. "This is a health disparity in many ways."

People whose annual household income was less than $35,000 were less likely than people making more money to consume the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables per day; nationwide, a higher proportion of rural residents -- 43.6 percent -- had annual household incomes less than $35,000, compared with urban residents (35.1 percent).

About 1 in 4 California adults living in urban areas ate the recommended amount of produce. But just 22.9 percent of adults in the state's rural communities met this benchmark. Nationwide, about 23 percent of urban adults and about 20 percent of rural adults ate their fill of fruits and vegetables.

More than 2.8 million Californians live in rural areas -- defined as metropolitan statistical areas with no city center or outside metropolitan statistical areas. Nearly 1 in 4 households in rural areas have annual incomes less than $35,000, according to census data.

Geography was not the only characteristic of people who consumed more fruits and vegetables, researchers found.

In general, researchers found that people who ate their recommended servings of fruits and vegetables were more likely to be: women, non-white, married or living with a partner, better educated, engaged in at least moderate physical activity, and living without children.

Among households with at least one child, 38.8 percent of rural residents and 42.7 percent of urban residents ate the recommended amount of produce -- a finding that came as a surprise, Lutfiyya said.

There could be multiple reasons that households with children consume fewer fruits and vegetables, she said, but money and convenience could play a role.

"If you have two working parents or if you're a single parent, either male or female, working, and you're trying to feed your kids at the end of the day & it's much easier to open processed, packaged food than it is to chop vegetables," she said. "Those are just facts of life."

The findings, based on an analysis of data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2009 Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System survey, show room for improvement among all populations, Lutfiyya said.

Eating produce "isn't just something that fills your belly," she said. "This is something that also can improve your health or is part of the preventive health regimen people should be thinking of."

Story courtesy of our media partners at California Watch (A Project of the Center for Investigative Reporting)

Get more California News ?

california watch, food, california news

View the original article here

Most fruits and vegetables are best harvested in the morning

Silicon Valley Community Newspapers

Posted:?07/25/2011 07:31:02 PM PDTUpdated:?07/25/2011 07:31:03 PM PDT
My colleagues and I are rather proficient in communicating with the plants in the garden. Plants let us know when they want a particular nutrient or are getting hassled by a particular pest. Those that produce fruit and vegetables also tell us when it is time to harvest. The only problem is that some horticulturists are not quite as receptive to information about ripening produce as we are to problems.

As my tomatoes ripen, I eat them whenever I want to, even if they are warm from hanging out in the sun. Any fruits or vegetables are fair game as soon as they are ready to get eaten. Although I will grow just about anything in my garden, I never bothered to learn how cook or even handle fruits and vegetables properly. For me, the best time to harvest is when I am hungry.

Those of us with more discriminating taste eventually become acquainted with the produce that we grow, so that we know when and how to harvest it to achieve the best quality. We learn how to translate the fragrance of a ripening melon, and to tap to determine density and consistency. Maturity of corn can be determined by their drying tassels, and confirmed by puncturing a few kernels. Color and texture of pea pods let us know when the peas within have achieved their optimum plumpness.

Renee of Renee's Garden, which is perhaps my favorite supplier of vegetable and flower seed, describes some less obvious recommendations for harvesting produce at the

website www.reneesgarden.com. While the weather is so pleasant through summer, it is best to harvest vegetables in the morning, while it is still cool in the garden. If harvested later in the day, vegetables can wilt because of evaporation of moisture and absorption of warmth. If harvesting in the morning is not possible, harvesting in the evening is the next best option.

Leafy vegetables such as lettuce, chard, collard, basil and parsley, as well as pea, are particularly sensitive to getting harvested during warm weather. Green beans grow like weeds during warm days, but are slightly crisper if picked while cool. Vegetables in the cabbage family that are grown later in the year or early in the following year, such as cauliflower and broccoli, can likewise get limp.

Root vegetables such as carrot, radish and turnip are not nearly as sensitive to warmth because they are so well insulated underground. They should be brought in out of the warmth and refrigerated (if preferred) quickly nonetheless. However, turnip greens and any other greens that are grown as root vegetables are just as likely to wilt as other leafy vegetables are.

Eggplant, pepper and zucchini are more resilient, but can potentially get limp if harvested a few days before getting eaten and left to linger in a warm and dry (minimal humidity) kitchen. Many varieties of tomato are best directly out of the garden; but many others actually get better flavor if harvested a bit early and left to finish off the vine. In autumn, when tomato plants stop producing, the last but nearly mature green tomatoes that run out of warm weather can finish ripening on the kitchen windowsill.

Flower of the Week: Passion Vine

My niece knows the weird flowers of passion vine as "flying saucers" because they look like something from another planet. The most common species, Passiflora X alatocaerulea, has fragrant, 4-inch-wide flowers with slightly pinkish or lavender shaded white outer petals and sepals around deep blue or purple halos that surround the alien-looking central flower parts. The 3-inch-long leaves have three blunt lobes and can sometimes be rather yellowish. The rampant vines can climb more than 20 feet, and become shabby and invasive, but may die to the ground when winter gets cold. Other specie have different flower colors. Some produce interesting fruit. Passiflora edule is actually grown more for its small but richly sweet fruit than for flowers.

Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at 408.358.2574 or lghorticulture@aol.com. Other gardening articles can be found at www.examiner.com/x-54419-

View the original article here

It's Official! Make Half Your Plate Fruits & Vegetables

New USDA food icon supports Dietary Guidelines

HOCKESSIN, Del., June 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a replacement for its current food pyramid in support of dietary recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 to make half your plate fruits and vegetables. ?The new plate icon is sectioned off to show fruits and vegetables as half of the plate, making the recommendation easy to understand.

"This science-based government recommendation to make half your plate fruits and vegetables is a significant and positive step in the battle to fight obesity and related health issues in America. ?The plate icon is a simple, memorable way to show Americans the proportion of fruits and vegetables they should be eating at every meal occasion," says Dr. Elizabeth Pivonka, president and CEO of Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH), the nonprofit entity in partnership with CDC behind the Fruits & Veggies—More MattersR national public health initiative. ?"Ever since the 2005 Dietary Guidelines increased the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables to consume daily, which was also the impetus to 'rebrand' 5 A Day to Fruits & Veggies—More Matters, making half your plate fruits and vegetables has been one of the supporting messages of our Fruits & Veggies—More Matters initiative since it's 2007 launch."

The consumer-friendly website, www.FruitsandVeggiesMoreMatters.org, offers tips, recipes, and meal planning advice geared towards meeting the goal of making half your plate fruits and vegetables easily achievable. ?While on the www.FruitsandVeggiesMoreMatters.org site, consumers can take the America's More Matters Pledge: Fruits & Veggies . . . Today and Every Day! The America's More Matters Pledge encourages everyone to make fruits and vegetables half of daily meals and snacks or to simply increase the amount eaten each day because more does matter. The tools needed to follow through with the half-the-plate pledge are also available on the www.FruitsandVeggiesMoreMatters.org website. ?The site includes a recipe database with over 1,000 recipes, many that can be made in 30 minutes or less, and a Video Center loaded with informational and entertaining short clips that offer fruit and veggie selection and storage and preparation advice and techniques.

Adding more fruits and vegetables to meals and snacks is fun and easy with so many available flavors and ?varieties of fresh, frozen, canned, dried, or 100 percent juice. ?Increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables eaten everyday, or filling half the plate with fruits and veggies at both meals and snacks can make a big difference in your health and energy level because more does matter. Pivonka says that eating fruits and vegetables is a sound investment in long-term health, and a very inexpensive part of a healthy lifestyle.

Follow Fruits & Veggies—More Matters on Facebook or Twitter to get the latest news on America's More Matters Pledge: Fruits & Veggies . . . Today and Every Day!, Fruits & Veggies—More Matters, and Half Your Plate.

About Produce for Better Health Foundation

Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) fruit and vegetable education foundation.? Since 1991, PBH has worked to motivate people to eat more fruits and vegetables to improve public health. ?PBH achieves success through industry and government collaboration, first with the 5 A Day program and now with the Fruits & Veggies-More Matters public health initiative.? Fruits & Veggies-More Matters is the nation's largest public-private, fruit and vegetable nutrition education initiative with Fruit and Vegetable Nutrition Coordinators in each state, territory and the military. To learn more, visit www.PBHFoundation.org and www.FruitsandVeggiesMoreMatters.org. Follow Fruits & Veggies-More Matters on Facebook or Twitter.

PBH is also a member and co-chair with Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) of the National Fruit & Vegetable Alliance (NFVA), consisting of government agencies, non-profit organizations, and industry working to collaboratively and synergistically achieve increased nationwide access and demand for all forms of fruits and vegetables for improved public health. ?To learn more, visit www.NFVA.org.

SOURCE Fruits & Veggies - More Matters

View the original article here

Wash fruits and vegetables under running water

Dear Heloise: I purchase fruits and vegetables at my local farmer's market each week. The produce is not wrapped, and before I prepare any of it, I soak it in water to which I have added 2 tablespoons of bleach. I don't know how many people have handled the produce prior to my purchasing it, and wish to be as safe as possible. - Eva Knight, via email

Dear Eva: Washing produce is always important, especially with outbreaks of salmonella and E. coli. We checked with the Food and Drug Administration, and it does not recommend using bleach, soap, detergent or produce washes.

----------advertisement-----------

They say to thoroughly "wash" all produce under only running water before using or cooking, which means to rub the surface with your hand or a vegetable brush to remove dirt, etc. If you want, you can use a clean paper towel to "scrub" the surface of delicate fruits and veggies.

Scrub firm vegetables, like potatoes, using a produce brush. Fruits with hard skins, like cantaloupe, should be scrubbed using a veggie brush under water so that bacteria don't move from the outside to the inside flesh when the skin is cut. Use a colander when washing fruit or veggies so cleaned items don't sit in dirty water. - Heloise

Dear Heloise: The cleanest and easiest way to slice through an avocado is lengthwise all the way around to the pit, twist to separate in half, remove the pit and use a spoon to scoop the avocado out. - Kathy, Phoenix

Dear Readers: Here are helpful hints for measuring sugar: Confectioners' or powdered sugar, typically used in frostings and icings, absorbs moisture, which causes clumping. This is why it must be sifted or fluffed before measuring, then leveled off with a smooth, flat utensil.

Brown sugar should be pressed down firmly with a spoon and then leveled off. The brown sugar should retain the shape of the cup when turned out into the bowl.

Granulated sugar can simply be placed in the measuring cup and, of course, leveled off for use. Happy baking! - Heloise

Dear Heloise: I opened a can of pineapple juice one day and needed to refrigerate the remainder. Leaving it in the can causes a "tinny" taste. Since my pitcher was not available, I grabbed two clean, empty, 20-ounce water bottles and filled them with the extra juice. It keeps well in the refrigerator and can be easily shaken when it separates.

The bottles take up less room than the pitcher and can be grabbed when heading out the door. - Skeeter Gurzick, Omaha, Neb.

View the original article here

Produce industry objects to lists of pesticide residue on fruits and vegetables

The Washington PostPosted:?05/17/2011 01:00:00 AM MDTUpdated:?05/17/2011 02:32:08 AM MDT

WASHINGTON — Every year for two decades, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued an annual report on the amount of pesticide residue it detects from samples of fresh fruits and vegetables around the country.

The Environmental Protection Agency uses the data to monitor exposure to pesticides and enforce federal standards designed to protect infants, children and other vulnerable people.

But the 200-page annual report has become a target of an unusual lobbying campaign by the produce industry, which worries that the data are being misinterpreted by the public.

In a recent letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, 18 produce trade associations complained that the data have "been subject to misinterpretation by activists, which publicize their distorted findings through national media outlets in a way that is misleading for consumers and can be highly detrimental to the growers of these commodities."

Is it fear-mongering?

They are most concerned by "The Dirty Dozen," an annual list released by the Environmental Working Group, an advocacy organization that ranks the fruits and vegetables it says have the most pesticide residue. The group also lists "The Clean Fifteen," a ranking of produce with the least residue.

"Our list has been something that has really gotten under their skin," said Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group, which began issuing the list a decade ago. "All we're saying is, if you want to minimize your exposure to pesticides, shop from this list. And if you look at the explosion in the organic sector, it's clear that people want to avoid pesticides if they can."

To the produce industry, "The Dirty Dozen" is fear-mongering.

"There are some organizations with agendas that do want to scare people away from fresh produce," said Kathy Means, a vice president at the Produce Marketing Association, a major industry group. "We don't want anyone eating unsafe foods, of course. But for those products that are grown legally and the science says (the pesticide) is safe, we don't want people turning away."

In fact, industry research found that one in four consumers is worried about the routine use of pesticides on fruits and vegetables, and 18 percent cite it as the main reason they don't buy more, Means said.

At the same time, sales of organic fruits and vegetables — which are grown without synthetic pesticides — are increasing rapidly and now make up 12 percent of all U.S. fruit and vegetable sales, according to the Organic Trade Association. Even during the economic downturn, organic fruit and vegetable sales reached nearly $10.6 billion in 2010, up nearly 12 percent from 2009, the association said.

Meanwhile, the annual report from the Pesticide Data Program is overdue by several months. The USDA intends to release it "shortly," according to Michael Jarvis, director of public affairs for the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Not so fast, health experts say

The produce industry has met privately with USDA officials to urge the agency to amend this year's report to include "some context" that would reassure consumers about the safety of fruits and vegetables grown with pesticides, Means said.

"We want the government to provide some interpretation, to help the public understand how to use the information so that it's not just a data dump that can be misinterpreted," Means said.

The efforts by the produce industry have alarmed several leading public health experts, who sent their own letter recently to Vilsack, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg.

"As scientists and public health advocates who have long urged consumers to reduce pesticide exposures when possible, we are concerned about any industry efforts to spin or censor the government's collection and release of pesticide residue data," they wrote in the letter, prepared by the Environmental Working Group.

One expert, Philip Landrigan, an epidemiologist and pediatrician at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, said federal regulation of pesticides in food needs to be tightened and the public is rightly concerned about possible health effects from exposure through food.

Where it is and is not

Environmental Working Group's shopper's guide to pesticides:

Dirty Dozen: (Highest in pesticide)

1. Celery

2. Peaches

3. Strawberries

4. Apples

5. Blueberries

6. Nectarines

7. Bell peppers

8. Spinach

9. Cherries

10. Kale/collard greens

11. Potatoes

12. Grapes (imported)

Clean 15 (Lowest in pesticides)

1. Onions

2. Avocados

3. Sweet corn

4. Pineapples

5. Mangoes

6. Sweet peas

7. Asparagus

8. Kiwis

9. Cabbage

10. Eggplant

11. Cantaloupe

12. Watermelon

13. Grapefruit

14. Sweet potato

15. Honeydew

Source: www.foodnews.org

You must be registered to comment (your comment will be saved for you while you register). It's quick (it takes about 30 seconds) and we only require your email and name. Comments that include any offensive material are prohibited. By using our site you agree to our terms of use.

Comment:

Use the "Report Abuse" link when necessary (you don't have to be a member, or be logged in to use it) Keep it clean and respect others — don't use language you wouldn't use with your parents Read the Post's Article Commenting Ground Rules here (link will open in a new window)

More Nation / World HeadlinesMORE MORE NATION / WORLD HEADLINES HEADLINES Strauss-Kahn's IMF future hinges on bail hearingHome videos show boy found dead in MaineUnited apologizes for reusing 9/11 flight numbersUnited apologizes for reusing 9/11 flight numbersGovt urges appeals court to uphold health care lawPhotos: Greek police and protesters clash during strikePhotos: Offbeat pictures from around the worldPhotos: Unabomber items to be offered in online auctionGates: Somebody in Pakistan knew about bin LadenUS slaps sanctions on Syria's Assad for abusesFor flood victims, life is tedious waiting gameAborted attempt before AF1 lands safelyVideo: Newt Gingrich 'glittered' by gay rights protester Lawmakers question US aid to PakistanPM: Japan's nuke regulators need more independenceMichigan woman dons wedding dress she wore in 1938US rep complains of naval ship's Cesar Chavez namePoll finds recent college grads hit by recessionFrench agape over treatment of jailed IMF chiefRebels: Gadhafi fighters shell western mountainsUN: Over 2 million need Libya aidEgypt's military rulers deny Mubarak amnesty plansNY police look for DNA in hotel carpet in IMF caseAfghan rally over NATO raid turns violent; 12 dieSkull repair to improve Giffords' quality of life? Blogs Front Page Aurora | Boulder | Denver | Feeds | MoreDenver & the WestFederal Heights mobile home park accused of bias in towing vehiclesTeachers propose plan for rating themselvesTauer recalls Denver war in final Aurora state of the city address? Rockies | Avs | Nuggets | Preps | RSS | More SportsWAC golf champ Hubbard takes on NCAA regional in ErieCastle Rock angler Ray Brown finds tournament rewardingRockies' Jimenez shows encouraging signs? Penny Parker | Tech | RSS | More BusinessNext-generation weather satellite ready for Oct. 25 launchIt gets expensive fueling a debate with $4 gasDick Kelly to retire as Xcel Energy CEO? Husted | Movies | Music | TV | RSS | Video EntertainmentDesigner Ralph Lauren had eyes on a superhero cape, he tells OprahHot Topic: Last night's "Glee" episode may spell the show's demisePhilip Roth wins Man Booker International Prize? Columnists | Letters | Cartoon | RSS OpinionEditorial: A better way to draw state linesEditorial: Trial shows loopholes in medical marijuana lawsVincent Carroll: Daniels may be GOP's best bet? Arcade | Crossword | Sudoku WatercoolerNeb. police arrest 2 from Missouri on grease theftOhio gov. not a fan of 'pink driver's license'Michigan woman dons wedding dress she wore in 1938? POPULARTALKERSEMAILED VOTED YEAR AGO
TOP STORIESWild weather hits metro area, snow falling in mountains? Xcel Energy CEO to retireParents of fourth-graders at tax increase press conference not asked permissionGreeley school board member accused of being drunk at meeting defends himselfState Sen. Suzanne Williams not indicted in fatal Texas crashIt's official: Target taking over Tamarac Square in DenverIce age tooth, another mastodon bone unearthed near Snowmass VillageCyclists' ban on "radio" causes controversy at Tour of CaliforniaHigh school seniors look forward to elaborate after-prom partiesMedical marijuana in Colo. gets scant attention from federal prosecutorsRockies' Jimenez shows encouraging signs?Post Poll - Drunk at workA Greeley school board member is accused of being drunk at a meeting. How many times have you shown up to work drunk / still drunk??None?Once or twice?Three to five times?Oh, six times or more?I don't know All contents Copyright 2011 The Denver Post or other copyright holders. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed for any commercial purpose.

Advertise | Archives | Careers | Contact Us | Ethics Policy | E-mail Alerts | Mobile | Privacy Policy | Web Feeds | RSS | My Yahoo | Repurposing Denver Post content - Guidelines | Site Map | Home Delivery | Terms of Use

Our other sites: Viva Colorado | Boulder Daily Camera | Boulder's Colorado Daily | Broomfield Enterprise | Sterling Colorado Journal-Advocate
Estes Park Trail-Gazette | The Lamar Ledger | The Fort Morgan Times | Brush (Colorado) News-Tribune

 

Eating vegetables, fruits increases natural glutathione, says DOH expert‏

MANILA, Philippines (PNA) – Eating vegetables and fruits like asparagus, broccoli, spinach, tomato, watermelon and avocado increases the body's natural glutathione, an anti-oxidant and immune booster, according to a Department of Health (DOH) expert.

Willie Ong, a cardiologist and DOH consultant, says eating these foods is cheaper and is a more natural way to increase natural glutathione in the body.

According to Ong, eating at least two cups of fruits and vegetables daily reduces the risk of getting cancer from about three to 10 percent.

Ong urges the public not to be easily swayed in anti-ageing promos or the so-called fountain of youth, and to instead choose safer ways such as eating healthy foods.

In a press conference Friday, Suzette Lazo, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-DOH director, also warned the public against the use of intravenous (IV) glutathione as it poses danger to one's health.

Lazo said the glutathione IV is only used as a treatment for cancer patients and not for skin whitening.

She said the side effects of glutathione IV may range from simple skin rashes to potentially fatal Steven Johnsons Syndrome, thyroid malfunction, kidney failure, and severe abdominal pain.

Unsafe use of needles (recycling, sharing) can result in the transmission of hepatitis B and even HIV, she also said.

The intake of glutathione pills, on the other hand, Lazo said, serves as vitamin supplements and there is no study to prove that it can be a skin whitener.

The two health experts issued the statements as the intravenous glutathione has become popular in whitening the skin.

View the original article here

AVA lifts suspension of fruits and vegetables from Hyogo, Shizuoka prefectures

SINGAPORE: The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority has lifted the suspension on the import of fruits and vegetables from Shizuoka and Hyogo prefectures.

This after investigations by the Japanese authorities showed that samples of the contaminated vegetables were not from these two prefectures.

Import of vegetables and fruits from Shizuoka and Hyogo prefectures was suspended after AVA detected radioactive contaminants in samples of Japanese mustard spinach and cabbage that were declared to be imported from these two prefectures.

But after investigations by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan, it has been confirmed that the samples were actually from Saitama and Ibaraki prefectures.

The exporters had made a wrong declaration.

Both Saitama and Ibaraki had already been suspended from exporting food products to Singapore on March 26 and March 23 respectively following the nuclear fallout in the country.

Japanese authorities have done follow-up samples of vegetables from Shizuoka and Hyogo and found them to be safe for consumption.

-CNA/ac

View the original article here

Philippines limits imports of plants, fruits, vegetables from Japan

The Philippine government has banned the importation of planting materials and plant products such as fruits and vegetables from six prefectures considered to be affected by radiation in Japan, an official said Wednesday.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said Wednesday that based on the assessment of the Bureau of Plant Industry, "there may be risk of increased levels of radiation-contamination of plants, planting materials and plant products in Japan."

Alcala said the government is temporarily suspending the issuance of plant quarantine clearance for the importation of plants, planting materials, and plant products such as fruits and vegetables from the prefectures of Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Iwata, and Miyagi was temporarily suspended.

He stressed the importance of food safety and of protecting the consuming public from harm that may be caused by radiation- contaminated agriculture and fisheries products.

The government issued the ban on the basis of a report of the Philippine embassy in Tokyo that the earthquake in Japan has resulted in serious nuclear accident at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant which may have affected the radionuclide levels of food, water, and the atmosphere.

Source: Xinhua

 

View the original article here