Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Pesticide Residues - from The Environmental Working Group

1 comment:

  1. From friend, client and CSA member Nicole Brown:
    PARENTS PLEASE READ! This year we've expanded the Dirty Dozen to the Dirty Dozen Plus. Green beans, kale and collard greens did not meet traditional Dirty Dozen standards but were commonly contaminated with organophosphate insecticides. These insecticides are toxic to the nervous system and have been largely removed from agriculture over the past decade. But they are not banned and still show up on some foods.

    For the first time since the inception of its pesticide testing program in 1991, the USDA looked at pesticide residues on green beans, pears and sweet potatoes sold as baby food. Green beans used in baby food tested positive for five pesticides, including organophosphates linked to neurodevelopmental problems. Pears prepared as baby food showed significant and widespread contamination. Fortunately, sweet potatoes sold as baby food had virtually no detectable pesticide residues.

    Disturbingly, the pesticide iprodione, which the Environmental Protection Agency has categorized as a probable human carcinogen, was detected on some samples of pears prepared as baby food. Iprodione is not registered with the EPA for use on pears. Its presence on this popular baby food constitutes a violation of FDA regulations and the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

    TRY TO MAKE YOUR OWN BABY FOOD FROM ORGANIC/LOCAL SOURCES.

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