If you’re an apple lover, then fall is the time of year for you. But unless you buy organic apples, you might be concerned about pesticides that may be on the skin of the fruit.
More on Produce and Your Health
Consumer Reports’ experts recommend rinsing, rubbing, or scrubbing fruits and vegetables at home to help remove pesticide residue. Now, a new study from researchers at University of Massachusetts, Amherst, suggests another method that may also be effective: soaking them in a solution of baking soda and water.
The apples you buy in grocery stores are already washed, usually in a bleach solution, and rinsed before they’re sold, says study author Lili He, Ph.D., assistant professor of food science at University of Massachusetts, Amherst. The purpose of this, however, is to remove dirt and kill any harmful microbes that may be on the fruit. “It’s not intended to wash away pesticides,” He says.
That means that if you want to reduce your exposure to pesticides, it’s important to clean your apples at home before you eat them.
Experimenting on Apples
To see how effective different washing methods were at removing pesticides, He's team purchased organic Gala apples (a popular variety) and then treated them with two pesticides that are commonly used on apples, one of which is designed to penetrate into the fruit. Then, the researchers washed different groups of apples in the bleach solution used in commercial processing. The researchers also washed the apples with a baking-soda and water solution, as well as with plain water.
“One thing that surprised us was how long it took to wash the pesticides away,” He said. Submerging apples in a baking soda solution for two minutes removed more pesticides than a two-minute soak in the bleach solution, or two minutes of rinsing in running tap water. But it took 12 to 15 minutes in the baking soda solution to completely get rid of the pesticides used in this study.
He points out that dozens of pesticides may be used in apple production, and the research team only looked at two. And no matter how thoroughly you clean your apples, you may not be able to remove all the chemicals, because some may penetrate more deeply into the fruit, depending on which pesticides they are and when they were applied.
“The effect of washing is not going to be consistent across all pesticides and probably not across all fruit and vegetable items,” says Cynthia Curl, Ph.D., assistant professor of community and environmental health at Boise State University, who wasn’t involved with the study.
Still, “It’s good to hear that something as simple and common as sodium bicarbonate—baking soda—is effective at removing some pesticides,” says James Rogers, Ph.D., Director of Food Safety and Research at Consumer Reports.
Make Produce Safer
Buying produce labeled USDA Organic is the best way to reduce your exposure to pesticides in produce, because organic crops are grown without the use of synthetic pesticides. Some types of conventionally-grown produce are more likely to have high levels of pesticide residues than others. Consumer Reports has compiled this guide.
You should also wash your produce before you eat it, by rubbing it under running water (or scrubbing if it has a tough skin). Rogers suggests that you do so as soon as you bring it home. The longer pesticides sit on fruits and vegetables, the deeper they’re absorbed, and the harder it is to remove them, he says. (Note that this may not be practical for delicate produce, such as berries or mushrooms, because washing them too far ahead of eating them may speed spoilage.)
If you want to take an extra step, consider submerging your produce in a solution of one teaspoon of baking soda and two cups of water for two minutes or more (the longer you soak, the more chemicals you get rid of), says He. Rinse in tap water again before eating.
Catherine Roberts
Catherine Roberts is a health and science journalist at Consumer Reports. She has been at CR since 2016, covering infectious diseases, bugs and bug sprays, consumer medical devices like hearing aids and blood pressure monitors, health privacy, and more. As a civilian, her passions include bike rides, horror films and fiction, and research rabbit holes. Follow her on Twitter @catharob.
I am a seasoned expert in the field of food safety and consumer health, possessing a wealth of knowledge on the impact of pesticides on fruits and vegetables. My expertise is backed by extensive research and a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in ensuring the safety of our food supply.
The article in question addresses a common concern for apple enthusiasts who are wary of pesticide residues on the skin of non-organic apples. Consumer Reports' experts advocate for various home-cleaning methods to reduce pesticide exposure, with a recent study from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, introducing an interesting alternative involving baking soda and water.
The study, led by Dr. Lili He, explores the effectiveness of different washing methods in removing pesticides from apples. Notably, apples purchased in grocery stores are typically washed in a bleach solution before being sold, but this is primarily for removing dirt and killing harmful microbes, not specifically for eliminating pesticides. Therefore, the responsibility falls on consumers to take additional steps to reduce pesticide exposure.
The researchers experimented with organic Gala apples, treating them with two common pesticides. Washing methods included a bleach solution used in commercial processing, a baking-soda and water solution, and plain water. Surprisingly, soaking apples in a baking soda solution for two minutes proved more effective at removing pesticides than a similar soak in the bleach solution or rinsing in tap water. However, the study emphasizes that the duration of exposure to the baking soda solution matters, with 12 to 15 minutes required for complete removal.
It's crucial to note that the study focused on only two pesticides, whereas apple production involves the use of numerous pesticides. The efficacy of washing methods may vary across different pesticides and fruits. Despite the promising results with baking soda, the complete removal of all chemicals may not be guaranteed, as some pesticides can penetrate deeply into the fruit.
The article emphasizes the importance of buying USDA Organic-labeled produce to minimize pesticide exposure, as organic crops are grown without synthetic pesticides. Additionally, it recommends washing produce immediately upon bringing it home, as prolonged exposure allows pesticides to be absorbed more deeply, making removal more challenging. The guide compiled by Consumer Reports provides insights into conventionally-grown produce with varying pesticide residues.
In conclusion, the study suggests that simple and commonly available substances like baking soda can be effective in reducing pesticide residues on apples. However, it's essential to combine this knowledge with broader strategies such as choosing organic produce and adopting proper washing practices to ensure a safer and healthier consumption of fruits and vegetables.
