How safe is your food?

Question

"There is growing consensus in the scientific community that small doses of pesticides and other chemicals can adversely affect people, especially during vulnerable periods of fetal development and childhood. Because the toxic effects of pesticides are worrisome, not well understood, or in some cases completely unstudied, shoppers are wise to minimize exposure to pesticides whenever possible."

"The following produce ranking was developed by analysts at the not-for-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG) based on the results of nearly 43,000 tests for pesticides on produce collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. FDA."

Those at the top of the ranking are recommended to be purchased organically.

Sources: http://www.foodnews.org/

Fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide residues

Rank Fruit or veggie Score

1 (WORST) Peaches 100 (highest pesticide load)

2 Apples 96

3 Sweet Bell Peppers 86

4 Celery 85

5 Nectarines 84

6 Strawberries 83

7 Cherries 75

8 Lettuce 69

9 Grapes (Imported) 68

10 Pears 65

11 Spinach 60

12 Potatoes 58

13 Carrots 57

14 Green beans 55

15 Hot peppers 53

Answer 1

Yes, many fruits and vegetables have a lot of pesticides on them.  In Canada over the past few weeks there has been quite a scare because of the listeria bacteria and the massive recall of Maple Leaf products.  Several deaths have been attributed to this contamination.  One processing plant has closed and it may not reopen.  

And just today we heard that there is a salmonella outbreak in Quebec attributed to contaminated cheese.  One person has died.

I think we were very comfortable that our food supply was safe, but we are beginning to see that it may not be.

Answer 2

Everyone drink diet soda too, and thats posionous..