Despite peer reviewed research showing it is scientifically unsupportable and negatively impacts consumers, the so-called “Dirty Dozen” list will be released soon.
This list was developed to invoke misplaced safety fears about fruits and vegetables – the food group we are encouraged to eat more of every day to prevent and fight diseases, improve physical and mental health and increase lifespan.
Before covering or using this “list,” we ask you to consider these facts about the “Dirty Dozen” list and produce safety:
“Dirty Dozen” Recommendations Are Unsupportable, Analyses Confirm Produce Safety
- Let’s start with a safety comparison: According to an analysis of the U.S. Department of Ag’s Pesticide Data Program by toxicologists with the University of California’s Personal Chemical Exposure Program, a child could eat 1,339 servings of organic lettuce in a day and not have any health effects from pesticide residues. Impressive! But that child could eat 1,665 servings of conventional lettuce in a day without any effects from residues. Yes, you read that correctly – residues were lower on conventional lettuce.
- A peer reviewed study found that the “Dirty Dozen” list’s suggested substitution of organic forms of produce for conventional forms did not result in any decrease in risk because residues on conventional produce are so very low, if present at all.
- United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Report shows that over 99 percent of residues found on fruits and vegetables, if present at all, are well below safety levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and 40 percent of foods sampled had no detectable residues at all.
The Nutritional Power Of Produce
- If just half of all Americans increased their consumption of a fruit or vegetable by a single serving each day, 20,000 cancer cases could be prevented every year, according to peer reviewed research.
- A study from Tufts University, Friedman School of Nutrition, found that “prescriptions” for fruits and veggies would prevent 1.93 million cardiovascular events (such as heart attacks) and 350,000 deaths, as well as cut healthcare costs by $40 billion.
- Decades of nutritional studies confirm that increasing consumption of conventional and organic produce prevents and fights diseases, improves health and increases lifespan. One example is a peer reviewed study published in Plos Medicine which shows a plant-rich diet can add three to ten years to your life expectancy.
“Dirty Dozen” Negatively Impacts Consumers And Produce Consumption
- A peer reviewed study found that when low income consumers are exposed to the misleading “Dirty Dozen” list messaging, they state they are less likely to purchase any produce – organic or conventionally grown.
- When the “Dirty Dozen” list recommendations were followed, the cost of buying produce rose up to 48 percent compared to if shoppers purchased the more affordable and accessible forms of produce.
- According to the Centers for Disease Control, only one in 10 Americans eat enough fruits and vegetables each day.
Final Facts to Consider
- Just wash it! According to the FDA, washing produce under running tap water can reduce and often eliminate pesticide residues, if they are present at all.
- A farmer’s first consumer is their own family so food safety is always their priority.
The Alliance for Food and Farming continues to urge the list authors to rethink promoting inaccurate, fear-based messaging. Instead, consumers should be encouraged to eat more organic and conventional fruits and vegetables every day. Both production methods yield safe and healthy foods that can be eaten with confidence.
For more information, visit safefruitsandveggies.com.