New Pesticide Worries for a Salad-Loving Mom

Talk about mixed messages. Today at the gym I was reading about ideas for combating childhood obesity. One of the author’s suggestions was making sure kids have access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Sounds pretty simple, right?

And then not two hours later, the 3-year-old and I had just finished our lunch (salad, yay!) when I saw this article in the newspaper, stating that children’s exposure to pesticides like those used on fresh fruits and vegetables has been linked to attention-deficit disorder. (Salad, boo!) Those authors suggested buying organic produce – which is a great concept, except that organic produce can be pricey.

The government regulates the amount of pesticide residues that can be left on our food, and the limits are pretty low. Still, there are worries about their cumulative effects, especially on children. This is because their exposure relative to their body weight is higher than adults’, and their brains are still growing and developing.

In this research, of the 1,139 children tested, 94 percent had detectable levels of pesticides in their urine. The kids whose levels were highest also had increased chances of having attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to the study, lead by a researcher from the University of Montreal and published today in Pediatrics.

So what’s a parent to do? Definitely don’t toss up your hands and bring out the Doritos. Experts across the board agree that the health benefits of fruits and veggies outweigh the pesticide risks. But it doesn’t hurt to be cautious. Here are some tips:

1. Learn which foods contain the most residues. According to the Environmental Working Group and other consumer organizations, this includes celery, strawberries, peaches, blueberries, apples, sweet bell peppers, cherries, potatoes, grapes, carrots and spinach.  If your budget allows for some organic foods, those are the ones to go with.
2. Substitute blackberries for strawberries, broccoli for bell peppers, romaine lettuce for spinach, oranges for cherries, watermelon for peaches. Click here for a list of other examples.
3. Wash, wash, wash. And peel. And cook (heat can break down some pesticides).
4. Grow your own. Once I thought about our lunchtime salad ingredients, I realized my son and I were eating pretty safe – the lettuce, spinach and radishes were from our own garden. But we did have store-bought baby carrots, and I’m going to make a mental note to buy those organic the next time I’m shopping.

By Amy De La Hunt, Health Blogger for SmartParenting