You should always rinse this fruit
You can’t see it, smell it or taste it, but it is there: your fruit may contain pesticides. Agricultural chemicals, used to prevent the fruit from becoming mouldy or rotten. Not very appealing to eat, so wash that fruit. This expert explains exactly what’s going on with your fruit and vegetables.
Jan Tytgat is a professor and toxicologist. He tells AD which vegetables and fruit are heavily sprayed with pesticides, and which are not. ‘Everything is thoroughly checked and there is no reason to panic, but after buying fruit, it is still best to wash or rinse it.’
Spinach
In America, lists are kept of the vegetables and fruit that are sprayed with a lot of pesticides. Strawberries are number one on the list of the most heavily sprayed fruit and vegetables. Spinach and other leafy vegetables are also on the list, as are nectarines, grapes, peppers, cherries, peaches, pears, celery and tomatoes. According to Professor Tytgat, the American list also applies to Europe.
Washing
So hold them under the tap before putting them in your mouth, or peel them. ‘Of course, you can’t peel grapes and strawberries,’ says the professor. ‘But you should wash them well, because these are precisely the types of fruit that contain a lot of pesticides.’ Rinsing under the tap does not remove everything, but it is better than nothing. According to the professor, you should always wash lettuce and the like thoroughly, because they may also contain bacteria and traces of viruses.
Runny nose
What happens if you ingest those pesticides? Once again, don’t panic, Tytgat stresses. ‘If people do experience problems from those pesticides, they are usually temporary; they resemble some allergic reactions.’ This may include a runny nose, stinging eyes or red spots. No major problems.
Organic is definitely good
The same list states that avocados, sweetcorn, asparagus, peas, onions and pineapples are sprayed the least. And if you want to be absolutely certain, choose organic vegetables and fruit, because pesticides are not used on them.
Also read:
- Emma’s food irritations #8: fruit in my food
- This fruit contains the most vitamin C (and no, it’s not a lemon)
- 5x fruit and vegetable peels you shouldn’t throw away
Source: AD.nl
