According to the EPA, thousands of pounds (lbs) of pesticides are used on the produce we consume every day in the US, with 89% of this used on agriculture.<\/p>\n
This number deserves attention.<\/p>\n
Pesticides: innocent until proven guilty?<\/p>\n
Pesticides are chemicals introduced into the environment to control pests and bacteria in food production. Pesticides are commonly used on everyday produce like apples, celery, sweet bell peppers, and peaches (see The Dirty Dozen).<\/p>\n
These chemicals make modern day mass-farming possible; without them farming would be much more labor intensive, and feeding the world\u2019s growing population would be near impossible.<\/p>\n
While the benefits of pesticides cannot be denied, their use comes with a cost that requires precaution and awareness.<\/p>\n
Most pesticides are not considered directly harmful, but there are historically dangerous pesticides, like DDT (banned in 1972) that raise a red flag telling us pesticides have the potential to be truly harmful. Those most at risk from food contact are babies, children, pregnant mothers, and fetuses.<\/p>\n
Pesticides are generally considered innocent until proven guilty, which is a dangerous strategy when considering chemicals we ingest on a daily basis.<\/p>\n
Who regulates them?<\/p>\n
The EPA is responsible for regulating pesticides in the US. Pesticide containers have specific labeling regulations so farmers and businesses know exactly what pesticides they are using.<\/p>\n
We as consumers, on the other hand, don\u2019t have the privilege of such specific labeling. Unsurprisingly, there is little to no regulation requiring a farm to label its fruits and vegetables for the pesticides used on them. An apple labeled with three strange pesticides is not one any consumer would be likely to buy\u2026<\/p>\n
Are they sufficiently regulated?<\/p>\n
The EPA sets a \u201cpesticide tolerance\u201d for each recognized pesticide, dictating the maximum amount of pesticide residue that can legally remain in or on a food product. This suggests two unsettling truths:<\/p>\n
There is enough risk from pesticide residue that is must be regulated<\/p>\n
Despite the risk, the EPA still allows a threshold amount of these chemicals<\/p>\n
While the EPA ensures all food and pesticide residue are safe to eat, I would prefer the assurance of a nice, clean apple, thank you.<\/p>\n
Pesticides are known to cause severe health problems to farmers, particularly in developing nations<\/p>\n
Furthermore, it is still difficult to regulate pesticide use on imported goods. In fact, if every exporter to the US followed the regulations of their country rather than those of the US, there would be over 120,000 kg of excess pesticides in circulation on foods like Guatemalan and Chilean apples.<\/p>\n
How can I protect myself from pesticides in food?<\/p>\n
You can avoid consuming industrial pesticides by eating organic food, which is produced using naturally-derived pesticides that are less likely to cause health problems.<\/p>\n
You can grow your own pesticide-free produce with Babylon\u2019s Micro-Farms. The automated system enables anyone to easily grow fresh, organic food at the touch of a button.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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