“Pesticides are used in the growing process on inorganic farms,” says Anne Wolf, RD, a registered dietitian and researcher at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Growers use pesticides to cut down on pests, so that they won’t eat the plants and destroy the crops, and to get a better crop yield.
Pesticides and Food Safety: Are Pesticides Dangerous?
For most people, pesticides aren’t an enormous concern. Pesticides are regulated so that they can’t be applied to produce in harmful amounts.“The amount that’s on food is not horrific — the USDA is overseeing it,” says Wolf. But, she adds, the risk of health problems is significant for young children. Because they’re smaller and have less body weight, more of the pesticide gets absorbed, causing stronger effects.Pesticides can build up in the body after many years of pesticide exposure, another reason why they’re particularly dangerous for pregnant women and young children. Ingestion or pesticide exposure can cause:
-Problems with motor skills
-Behavioral problems and disorders
-Delayed developmental growth
Pesticides and Food Safety: Foods With Pesticides:
Any produce that’s typically eaten with the skin is going to have more pesticides. If you peel it off, as you would with oranges or bananas, you’ll get rid of those pesticides. But Wolf recommends eating the edible skins of other fruits because there’s so much fiber and nutritional value there
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