right now I am experiencing a major Nectarine addiction

For me, eating more fruits and vegetables is more important than the organic aspect. Since way more conventional produce is available and less expensive, I expect I will continue to buy it -- even the "dirty dozen". 

It is good to be aware of chemicals in food. As a chemist, though, I think there is a greater chemical danger from the air people breathe in large cities (or country areas near large industry), and also from the things people ingest from a diet of processed food. Even with pesticide dangers, the fresh fruit and veg are likely safer than a diet of things from cans. It's a matter of proportions.

One item to be aware of with organic fruit and veg. is high, potentially sick-making E. Coli bacteria levels. Some times a little chemical is safer than the alternative.

So what I was meaning to say (sorry for the p.s.) is that I wonder how great the actual difference is in residues between the "clean 15" and the "dirty dozen." Likely, both lists are still better for you than a lungful of air in Montreal or New York, or whatever it is you'll get out of a can of Chef Boyardee or a box of Kraft Dinner.

i have been washing my store-bought fruit and vegetables in a bowl of cold water with 1 T white vinegar. I read somewhere that this was an economical way to remove chemicals.

I guess I try to see how good or bad a food is as a relative subject. When given a choice between a "dirty" apple or a Mc_____, I say choose the dirty apple.

Sometimes there's options for organic products, however, they're often more expensive. Not everyone can afford to buy organic, but a good tip for next year would be to grow your own produce. Right now I'm harvesting my own organic zucchini, squash, grapes, tomatos, peppers, & onions. They cost me pennies to grown, and I take great pride in the garden I worked all summer (not to mention weeding is a great workout!)

I have discovered a great farm stand close to my home that sells all local fruit and vegetables.  I now only buy fruit and vegetables from that stand.

Original Post by: toroneh

right now I am experiencing a major Nectarine addiction

nectarines and peaches....yummm...I have been eating them like crazy too!

Coming from a person who used to live on a  "Deep Fried" diet, any fruit and veggies is better than what I used to have. Chemicals and all.

"But, there’s a caveat: certain conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables carry unsafe levels of pesticide residues. "

This statement doesn't really seem backed up by anything and seems salacious. The "bottom line" was much more accurate. Detectable isn't necessarily unsafe. I'm all for being informed and it makes sense to me to not go overboard on those items that carry more chemicals. I'm not about to eliminate them though.

It's important to remember that organic items need to be washed well too. Ecoli is 100% natural and found in manure, the fertilizer of choice for organic gardening. Certain strains are KNOWN to kill people.

I have slowly re-included fruits and veggies in my diet, so didn't want to worry much about pesticides. But lately, I've been avoiding buying veggies & fruit in the 'dirty dozen', except if they are organic. These lists vary on the internet, it's hard to know for sure which ones to avoid, but celery, imported grapes, sweet bell peppers are constantly on the 'dirty dozen'. Today I learned I have to watch for patatoes and lettuce, get them organic if I can! I buy only organic apples now. When you want to eat right, the pesticides 'minefield' makes it more difficult, especially since most of us have so much to juggle at the same time, we have such a hectic life. One of my favorites, onions, is NOT full of pesticides, which is great!

You wonder if small/trace amounts really matter... maybe not.. but what got my attention was recently when there was a discussion of trace amounts of the chemical found in hard plastics that is now found in almost everyone's body in trace amounts.  We are reminded that trace amounts of a similar amount of hormones are found in birth control pills, viagra, etc and certainly have significant effects on our bodies.  So unproven yet or not, probably a heads up to take it seriously rather than not.  That said, one day at a time.. I'm not perfect all improved choices are better than where I was.

Yes whenever I can I buy organic, mostly because of my children.  Most of the organic I buy are the items we eat a lot of; like apples, my kids love them and they eat a lot of them.  And then there are the small fruits of which you can't eat just one...like strawberries - who can eat just a few?  or cherries?  My husband is a big gardener so we have  a lot of our own organic produce including kale, swiss chard, lettuce, blackberries, strawberries, tomatoes and beans.  For this I feel very fortunate.  I do agree with other posts that better to eat non organic prduce than a lot of processed foods in cans and packages.

Original Post by: christathin

It is good to be aware of chemicals in food. As a chemist, though, I think there is a greater chemical danger from the air people breathe in large cities (or country areas near large industry), and also from the things people ingest from a diet of processed food. Even with pesticide dangers, the fresh fruit and veg are likely safer than a diet of things from cans. It's a matter of proportions.

One item to be aware of with organic fruit and veg. is high, potentially sick-making E. Coli bacteria levels. Some times a little chemical is safer than the alternative.

I completely agree. While conventional agriculture is a major source of pollution for streams and lakes that streams empty into (read about the algae problem in Lake Erie), air pollution is a huge threat that people don’t even think about. I suffer from asthma so even AQI code orange days I have to be careful about. Lead is not as much of a problem as it used to be, but mercury and other metals are very prevalent. It is tragically funny how there is a disconnect between worrying about what we breath in and worrying about what we eat. I also agree with your other comment. People are so scared of irradiated foods, but they get more radiation from being out in the sun or from the earth’s magnetic field itself! Yet irradiated foods allow us to keep healthy foods longer and kill bacteria.  

Oh yeah! I love summer!

We eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables every day at every meal.  I have a 6 year old and since he stopped nursing at 6 months old I have fed him only organically grown produce and organic dairy products (from 12 months).  I made his baby food with organic produce.  We have switched to primarily organically raised, grass fed beef and organically raised poultry.  We choose fish and shellfish that are identified as having low chemical contaminants and that are not overfished and try to eat wild caught over farm raised.   

These are important issues to me and are something that I can control.  By supporting less polluting farming, I feel that I am also working to improve the environment we live in.  I can only do so much to control the quality of the air we breathe.  I try not to drive more than I have to, write to my congress people, the executive branch and heads of agencies and corporations to let them know what is important to me and for the future of our kids.  We are using environmentally safe or safer cleaning products and personal care products, we wash and re-use plastic bags and employ other methods of creating less trash.  We compost. 

Many of these things cost more money - organic produce costs more money that conventional products cost, but for my son's future and other future generations it's worth the cost. 

of course the dirty dozen are all my favorites that I eat everyday.  I try to buy organic, but due to limited funds I have been buying a lot of the cheaper stuff lately.  I figure it's still better to be eating lots of non-organic fruits and veggies than less organic ones.  I've read that anything with a tough peel is usually okay to eat non-organic because the pesticides don't penetrate the peel.  Like bananas, avocados, etc.

I have already decided that when I have a kid in the future I am going to go 100% organic during the pregnancy and in the early years at least.  That way if my baby has three eyes and can breath under water or something I will know I did the best I could on my end! 

Seriously though, it is best to go all organic if possible!

There should be a like button as with facebook. I would "like" despinamb comment LOL

Some of the pesticides are proven to cause endocrine disruptions (thyroid disease etc.) not fun...what to do?

i would love to buy organic "common" fruits. i would love to buy regular "exotic" fruits. unfortunately, both are more expensive than regular, common fruit; and i can't bring an onion in to work for mid-morning snack.  it's hard enough justifying the money i spend on fresh fruits & veggies when we can make a $10 pizza last for three days. i just don't have the fund to buy stuff that's not going to kill me, whether it's organic or not....  i mean, either i'm going to be fat and full of preservatives, or i'm going to (one day) be thin and full of pesticides. ok, now i'm really depressed.

We live in Florida on 2 lots (not much room for a "farm") and have decided to grow our own. It's very difficult in the heat and rain but what a thrill to eat pesticide-free veggies!  My husband has changed our sandy soil to black earth using rabbit manure and wood chips. He grows collards, spinach, celery, and terrific cucumbers that we pickle.  We also have sweet potatoes that make great treats for the dogs! I'm growing pots of herbs, cayenne pepper, onions, garlic, and have been struggling with tomatoes.  Still, it is definitely worth the "pain" to farm when compared to the dangers of pesticide. If you don't have room, try some stuff in pots.  My problem is that I'm the world's fattest vegetarian because my favorite veggie is cocoa bean.  I'm trying and that's all any of us can do! 

Cocoa beans are excellent nutrition. Try changing your chocolate consumption to higher-quality chocolate -- that will probably drop the amount you eat.

Chocolate has so many benefits, I don't think it should be banned from any diet!

Christa

As a poor college student trying to make better decisions for my health I would love to buy organic but the price tag is the problem. So for now just regular ole apple will have to do :(

I have a 50% rule. If the organic item costs no more than 50% of the conventional item, I buy organic. By checking prices I find that the organic items in our store are usually just a little bit more than the conventional items. Also, it is not uncommon for the organic items to be less. I don't know why, but I'm not complaining. Eating organic is so important; the benefits go so much further than personal health - the health of the earth, of the farmer, the food handler. So much less suffering all around.

Two places that I have recently discovered that have slightly lower cost organic items are Costco Wholesale and Trader Joes. 

We moved to our new house after planting season this spring, but next year, I plan to have a large "square foot garden" in our back yard.  I can't wait for the fresh veggies and fruit.

By the way, for those of you who like potatoes, organic potatoes are delicious.  They have almost a sweetness to them and no funky smell like non-organic.

I soak/wash all my fruits and veggies in cold water with a "gurgle" of Hydrogen Peroxice in the water.  I also wash my water melons and cantalopes to avoid E-coli that could be on the melons skin.

Also- "organic" does not mean that NO pesticides are used. We would be fools to believe that organic farmers leave their crops and profits to be ravaged by bugs and disease.

Organic produce simply is protected by organic pesticides, those derived from natural sources.. Just as you can buy "natural" pesticides at a garden center to protect your own garden.

And in this case, natural is not necessarily better for our health. There are fewer regulations guiding the organic market of what is safe or effective. So, while a "non-organic" pesticide may have to go through years of testing to determine its safety (believe me, I'm not saying they are "safe"), an "organic" pesticide does not necessarily go through the same processes. And I think we are all aware that simply because something is natural does not mean that it is good for you. Cyanide is all natural. Lead is natural. On organic pesticides you will see the warning: "Use with caution. The toxicological effects of [organic pesticide X] are largely unknown," Clearly, natural pesticides are going to be, most often, better for the environment, so add that to the "pro" column of organic. However, since organic pesticides are often much less effective than their chemical counterparts, they must be applied in larger doses and much more often. I think we can all see what the issue with this might be.

I think the bottom line, in all things, is to be reasonable. Buy organic if you can afford and it is available, but still wash your fruit and know that organic does not in all cases spell a better, safer product.

And grow your own if you can! There are few things more satisfying than serving your family meals from a garden that you've nurtured from seed.

Just try to keep in mind that anytime there are profits at stake, a company is going to take measures to protect their income, and in the case of farming (whether organic or not) that means using pesticides- whether it's citrus or otherwise organically based, or lab-created chemicals.

Original Post by: fai1

i would love to buy organic "common" fruits. i would love to buy regular "exotic" fruits. unfortunately, both are more expensive than regular, common fruit; and i can't bring an onion in to work for mid-morning snack.  it's hard enough justifying the money i spend on fresh fruits & veggies when we can make a $10 pizza last for three days. i just don't have the fund to buy stuff that's not going to kill me, whether it's organic or not....  i mean, either i'm going to be fat and full of preservatives, or i'm going to (one day) be thin and full of pesticides. ok, now i'm really depressed.

Take this article with a grain of salt, fai1. All things in moderation. Wash your fruits and veggies and you'll be fine. You'll do better eating a plant based diet with an occasion splurge on pizza. But if ALL you eat is the pizza junk, it will kill you. There's a reason it's cheap.

Just don't underestimate your own body's ability to filter things that are not great for it. Assist your body in this effort by providing all those great antioxidants, vitamins, mineral, fiber and other goodies by filling it with fruits and veggies, no matter how many articles are out there designed to shock you.

I think the point is to reduce your total body burden - it isn't an either or proposition.  I don't think anyone would argue (well, some do, but that is a different discussion) that we need to improve air quality in urban areas.  While that is happening, do what you can by eating organic versions of as many fruits and vegetables as possible.  The point of these lists is to allow folks who can't afford a 100% organic diet to get the biggest bang for their bucks by focusing on the plants that are most contaminated with pesticide residues.

I actually read the ingredients on a can of Chef Boyardee recently as i was feeding it to my granddaughters... The main ingredients are tomatoes, water, ground beef and enriched wheat macaroni product with fortified protein. It's low in fat, high in protein and overall I felt pretty good about giving it to the girls. .

so don't knock it 'till you've read the label. :-)

@bethass- there are definitely WORSE things that are cleverly marketed to children. But before you decide it's a great product,  check out the sodium and saturated fat.  You mentioned it was low in fat, so we're probably talking about different "Chef Boyardee" products, but in my old "fat days" I used to eat the beef ravioli, and I know that in a can of that there is almost 1/3 of a day's worth of total fat, and an even higher percentage of saturated fat. Keep in mind, also, that a can is usually 2 or more adult servings' worth, so it can have well over a days' worth of sodium for a child.

I'm not trying to be condescending, I promise. It's just that these products marketed toward kids have just enough "enriched" garbage in them to keep us moms from really seeing their contents.

I don't think Chef Boyardee tastes good at all. It's watered down and way too sweet. For me, it's easier to get some water boiling, throw in some pasta, and heat up some spaghetti sauce (also, you can do this in advance of grandkids coming and keep the cooked pasta in the fridge or freezer. If their taste buds can handle CB, they can handle previously frozen. Then you can throw in some turkey crumbles or my favorite meat substitute: Quorn.

However, I don't think its gonna break kids health for splitting a can on a trip to grandmas. My grandma made me eat way worse stuff when I would stop over: like a ham sandwich with mayo! Yuck! The old story of sitting there til you eat was true for me and my grammy!

I agree, trancendenz! There are definitely worse things. My grandma used to make us eat spam w/ miracle whip.... (insert vomiting sounds here)

Original Post by: hayleyjean1982

I agree, trancendenz! There are definitely worse things. My grandma used to make us eat spam w/ miracle whip.... (insert vomiting sounds here)

lol I'm all for the old adage: don't knock it til you try it. But I can safely say that never eating spam before is a good thing!

To each their own I guess!

My argument in favor of organic produce

About 90% of the produce I buy is organic.  It costs more; it's worth it both for reducing my exposure to carcinogens as well as the far superior taste.  

Our household probably spends less than $50 a month to cover the increase in cost.  It is a bargin from my perspective.   I know my organic farmer and have visited his farm so I see the difference at the operational level.  I also have noticed that the produce lasts longer in the refridge than conventionally grown produce since the plants develop more slowly than comerically fertilized produce.  Less spoilage helps to recapture some of the increased costs of organic produce. 

When people say they "can't afford it" I think it's more a statement of what they value.  If you "can't afford it" but can afford cable tv, or two tvs, or cable modem, or alcoholic beverages, or drive a new car, or own many pairs of shoes, or have more than one computer, well, you are saying what is of more or less value to you.

What I put in my body is more important than a lot of other things so that's where I spend my money.  My values say that is a good decision.  You, the reader, have to decide where your priorities are.

It's a total sin, as Jamie Oliver noted, that all that sugar and sodium is even in the cans. Why on EARTH isn't the government starting to regulate it? There should be maximum servings of sugars and sodium, and packaging should reflect that (we can't stop people buying 2 L bottles of pop, but we could encourage smaller servings of slurpees, starbucks drinks, less salt in foods, etc.).

America is WAY oversweetened.

I'd prefer the government NOT regulate what I can and can't eat. It's one thing to regulate things that affect our environment (e.g. everyone) and another to regulate what affects one person (and yes I realize obesity is a problem and we end up paying for other people's poor decisions, but still).

pcseaborg I agree with you in part. People don't take into account the value of destruction of nature. Oh it's just a little phosphorus to grow those plants and it saves me 50 cents per lb at the store, but then they have to pay more on their water bill because the fields they apply phosphorus to run into a stream that feeds their water treatment plant. There is a huge disconnect.

However to assume that someone has 2 tvs, has a new car, or has cable is very skewed by the idea that everyone on here is middle class or higher (I have two tvs, but one was a present). I make about 15,000 a year (I'm a part time intern to go towards my graduate degree) with some prospect of a perm job, but not guaranteed. I'm not tossing around bills by any means, but yes, it IS more important to me to have good running shoes because I participate in sprint triathlons and am training for a 10k. It IS more important to me to have a good bike so I can compete well and be more comfortable. I work and save and if that means I'm not going to pay more when organic isn't on sale or traditional is on sale, then so be it. I buy organic when I can (meaning on my terms, not some random internet persons). This may come off as snarky, but oh well.

I guess its time to get some produce wash!

Local Farmers Markets.....

they are all over the country, you are supporting a farming family (I am one), and most of us grow things WITHOUT chemicals...

@eruvyreth: YES! Thank you for the food.

@trancendenz: You don't want the government to regulate what you can and can't eat? They already do! Have you heard of the FDA?

There's some kind of perception that being at the mercy of business and industry, who we all know are totally willing to lie to us, is superior to a society helped by an intelligent government. That's weird.

The riff on $ was interesting... I hope you're feeling better now. It sounds like you make good choices. I agree with the idea that money is worth less than time.