Does anyone here know what farmers in the US use to spray produce?

Question

If so how bad is it to eat apples, peaches, grapes, any fruit or vegetable that has thin skin.

I mean I have been spending money on any thin skinned fruit or vegetable and I don't want to spend so much on organic...I know that produce that are coming in to the US from other countries are heavily sprayed with who knows what???? help

Answer 1

Much of the insecticide sprayed on produce is like malathion. It works by turning into a gas. The gas dissipates rapidly. In fact, malathion and carbyl (seven dust) are the most commonly used  of all. Malathion turns to gas and carbyl can be applied right to your pets. It will wash off.

Edit:

I went and did some reading. I wanted to see if I could help you ease your mind and make a wise choice.. On sites where people spend lots of time worried about what is in food. Malathion is said to be a vile and hated chemical. They say do not eat strawberries. They say peel your apples. Peel your cucumbers.

The government says: "There is no conclusive proof that malathion causes cancer in humans, although some studies have found increased incidence of some cancers in people who are regularly exposed to pesticides, such as farmers and pesticide applicators. Animal studies also fail to provide conclusive evidence of carcinogenicity. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that malathion is unclassifiable as to carcinogenicity to humans."

I can tell you that malathion is used in most cities to spray for mosquitoes. They drive up and down your street fogging the stuff into your neighborhood. I can tell you it is considered safe. I can tell you that another insecticide, paraquat, related to it is deadly in the the first hour or so after it is sprayed by planes over crops.  I applied insecticide and herbicides, some of which have been banned, when I was young. I was soaked in the stuff. I have suffered no ill efffects in 30 years. It is not 100% safe stuff for sure but I see people worried about the drinking water and eating food cooked in teflon pans all the while smoking a cigarette.

Cigerattes cause cancer, malathion is not known to do so.

E coli is a more immenient threat. I would recommend peeling apples, washing your berries and grapes. Then enjoy them without worry. Stress causes cancer..