Even if you wash cucumbers well, do pesticides still remain? ... They say you should peel the skin before eating, is that really true?

Research results from Anhui Agricultural University in China... When washed using typical household methods, trace amounts of pesticides remain, so it is advised to peel cucumbers and apples.

It is common to wash fruits and vegetables before eating.

However, recent studies have raised concerns that cleaning alone may not completely remove pesticides.

 

According to foreign media such as the UK Daily Mail, researchers at Anhui Agricultural University in China recently announced in the journal Nano Letters that they used a highly sensitive film capable of detecting trace amounts of chemicals that cannot be identified by conventional tests.

 

In this study, the researchers sprayed apples and cucumbers with pesticides called thiram and carbendazim, then washed them as they would with fruits in a typical household.

As a result, trace amounts of pesticides still remained on the surface of the cucumber and apple viewed through the special film.

Similarly, this method was applied to other foods such as shrimp, red pepper powder, and rice, and pesticide contamination was also detected in these foods.

 

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), carbendazim is a pesticide that may increase the risk of liver cancer in some animal studies, and thiram is associated with fetal development issues and can generally cause skin irritation.

If exposed to high concentrations of carbendazim, symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and movement disorders may occur.

 

The researchers provided evidence that washing fruits and vegetables alone is insufficient and recommended peeling and eating the skins of foods like apples and cucumbers.

The researchers explained, "Simply washing the fruit is not enough to avoid the risk of pesticide intake; peeling the fruit can help avoid pesticides on the surface and flesh of the fruit and reduce the likelihood of pesticide ingestion."

 

However, the pesticides Thiram and Carbendazim used in the research in China are not approved for use in the UK and our country.

Foods imported to the UK may be grown using these pesticides and sold in supermarkets, but experts believe that the traces of these chemicals are so minimal that they are unlikely to cause the side effects observed in studies.

 

In our country as well, carbendazim has been used to control fungal diseases in various crops.

It has generally been prohibited due to its impact on health and environmental issues.

Tiram is primarily a pesticide used as a seed treatment disinfectant, but its use has decreased due to its negative impact on health and the environment, and it is not commonly used domestically.

Kabe Dazim and Tiram are continuously being managed and regulated more strictly due to safety concerns, and alternative pesticides or non-chemical control methods are being recommended.

 

Even if it is not necessarily the pesticide ingredient above, numerous studies have revealed that exposure to pesticides is associated with an increased risk of diseases such as cancer.

A recent study also announced that the effects of pesticides on cancers such as Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, and bladder cancer are greater than those of smoking.

 

However, experts point out that the health benefits gained from consuming fruits and vegetables far outweigh the risks associated with minimal pesticide intake.

☆ If you're concerned about residual pesticides when washing fruits and vegetables, try following the smart cleaning methods for each fruit and vegetable introduced by the Korea Food and Drug Administration.

 

☆Whole apple with skin is good

In fact, if you wash it well under running water, you can eat it with the skin on.

However, since relatively more pesticides remain in the sunken area near the stem, it is better not to eat this part when consuming the skin.

 

☆Bumpy cucumber with protrusions

It is better to scrub the surface with a sponge or similar object under running water.

Then, sprinkle coarse salt, rub it in, and rinse with running water.

 

Banana with a peel

Most preservatives or disinfectants are sprayed before and after the harvest.

Fumigation method is also used, which involves exposing the product to smoke from preservatives applied after harvest.

However, in any case, pesticides or preservatives do not penetrate through the skin to the flesh, so there is no need for additional washing.

 

Grapes that require thorough cleaning

Because it is difficult to wash thoroughly between the grape seeds, many people remove the seeds and wash them separately.

However, if you soak the pine mushrooms in water and then rinse them well under running water before eating, there is no major problem.

There is also a claim that sprinkling flour or baking soda on grapes and washing them can adsorb pesticides, making them cleaner.

 

☆Easily crushable strawberries

Because of its large surface area, it absorbs more pesticides and is easily crushed, making it difficult to wash by rubbing with hands. It should be washed more thoroughly under running water than other vegetables, especially the stem part where pesticides tend to remain more, so it is better not to eat it and leave it behind.

 

☆Perilla leaves that must be washed carefully

Since pesticides are likely to be on the fine hair, it is difficult to wash them off with just running water.

It is better to wash by rubbing more than other vegetables. Soaking in water for about 5 minutes and then rinsing under running water for about 30 seconds can remove approximately 70% of residual pesticides.

 

Cabbage that needs to have its outer leaves removed

Cabbage's outer leaves are likely to have a lot of pesticide residue. Rinse it well under running water, and when eating, removing 2 to 3 outer leaves can ensure safety.

 

The 'soaking and rinsing method,' where fruits and vegetables are soaked in water for one minute, stirred by hand to wash, and then rinsed under running water for about 30 seconds, is also effective.

By doing this, the contact time with water increases, allowing most of the residual pesticides to be removed. Many people wash fruits or vegetables with vinegar, salt, charcoal-infused water, or other solutions, but there is little difference in pesticide removal effectiveness compared to just washing with water.

None.