Can I effectively wash off pesticides from my fruits and vegetables?
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Can I effectively wash off pesticides from my fruits and vegetables?
First, it is good to know which fruits and vegetables have been found to be among the top twelve that contain the greatest amounts of pesticide residue. In descending order they include:
- peaches
- strawberries
- apples
- spinach
- nectarines
- celery
- pears
- cherries
- potatoes
- sweet bell peppers
- raspberries
- grapes (imported)
We would suggest you peel any of the above fruits and vegetables (that can be peeled) to avoid the pesticides.
Using a mild soap solution to wash your vegetable will help remove some pesticide residues, but it is best to peel fruits and vegetables that are coated with wax such as eggplant and cucumbers as the wax cannot be washed off.