Pesticide Residues Parents Magazine USA
Parents in the us have been told to stop worrying about pesticide residues in their children's food. An article in Parents -- a widely circulated parenting magazine in the country -- claims that "There's no evidence that these chemicals, used at the low levels found in our food supply, are harmful to children". According to Gary Drevitch, the author of the article 'Foods Under Fire', "People worry that pesticides sprayed on fruits and vegetables elevate cancer risk and end up buying organic produce, which cost 30 to 50 per cent more". He suggests that thoroughly washing all fruits and vegetables with warm water, removing outer layers of lettuce, cabbage and other leafy vegetables would be sufficient -- all this despite the Atlanta-based us Center for Disease Control's recent statement that food is one of the main sources of us children's exposure to pesticide (see 'usa's body burden,' Down To Earth, September 15, 2005).
Drever also has suggestions to ward off common scares such as trans-fats in oil, mercury in fish, bovine growth hormones in milk, mad cow disease and carbohydrates.
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