Unveiling the 'Dirty Dozen': Hidden Pesticides in Your Produce and How to Stay Safe

Are you aware of the hidden dangers lurking in your fruits and vegetables? Join us on Fresh Take for an eye-opening discussion with Juan Carlos Rodriguez, an Education and Outreach Specialist at Florida Organic Growers. We promise you’ll gain critical insights into the "Dirty Dozen," a list of produce most contaminated with pesticides, and understand the potential health risks these chemicals pose.

In this episode, we unravel the origins and mission of the Environmental Working Group (EWG), established in 1993, and explore how they educate the public using data from the USDA and FDA. You'll learn why strawberries and other crops are heavily sprayed, especially in climates like Florida's, and the regulations in place to ensure consumer safety. 

Discover the truths and misconceptions surrounding organic farming as we clarify the selective use of natural and approved synthetic pest control products. We also highlight emerging evidence linking conventional pesticides to serious health issues, including hormonal disruptions and developmental problems. This episode is a must-listen for anyone committed to maintaining a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:03

Welcome to Fresh Take, where we at Florida Organic Growers speak to food systems experts about topics related to organic and sustainable agriculture, healthy lifestyles and the environment. To help us continue our programs at FOG, including our podcast, consider becoming a sponsor. For more information on sponsorship, check out our Get Involved page on our website, wwwfoginfoorg.

Speaker 2: 0:26

Hello health-conscious listeners and food safety advocates. Welcome to another eye-opening episode of Fresh Take. Today we're discussing a topic that's crucial for anyone who cares about what ends up on their plate. Join us as we unpack the dirty dozen, explore the potential health risks of pesticide exposure and provide practical tips for minimizing your exposure to harmful chemicals while still enjoying a nutritious diet. With me today is a very special guest who some of you listening might recognize from the show as our other podcast hosts and currently the education and outreach specialist at Florida Organic Growers, juan Carlos Rodriguez. I'm so happy to have you on the show today. Welcome back.

Speaker 3: 1:10

Well, thank you, lana. I'm glad to be back. It's always something I really enjoy. Doing is just, you know either, talking to some guests. I didn't think I was going to be a guest anytime soon, but I'm glad that you know I get to talk to you today.

Speaker 2: 1:28

So today we definitely wanted to dive a little deeper into this topic that we've heard of for many years the Dirty Dozen. I myself have a background in nutrition. I myself have a background in nutrition and when I was studying this topic, this was something that was brought up as kind of a way for people to understand, maybe, what produce is absorbing more pesticides than others.

Speaker 3: 1:56

Would you say that.

Speaker 2: 1:57

That's pretty much what that means.

Speaker 3: 1:59

I think so. I think that and in fact it's interesting because you, as a nutritionist and go to, you know, an agricultural college or institution. You know pesticides. Pesticides are needed to combat pests or diseases and you know weeds, for example. So, generally, if you're careful how you use them, especially for the people that are, you know applying them, then it should be fairly safe.

Speaker 3: 2:46

However, over the years, we've learned that many of those chemicals can be harmful to the environment and in fact, you know the reason and one of the reasons, maybe part of the reasons why you know the organic movement took off was because of publications and pioneers who were starting to talk about the harmful effect that some of these pesticides had on the environments and animals. Silent Spring I'm sure many of the people out there recognize the name, rachel Carlson talked about a lot of the harms that pesticides could have on animals and birds and that sort of thing, and then now we talk about those same pesticides being on the food that we eat, and then there's going to be, obviously you know, concerns as to about is this food safe for me to eat? You know, and so, yeah, certainly that that's part of that reason eat, you know.

Speaker 2: 3:47

And so, yeah, certainly that. That's part of that reason. Yeah, and you, I just had a flashback to my ap environmental science class when you said silent spring. Yeah, because that's a book that you know, I think paved the way for environmentalism, yes, to really take off, since it was, I think, one of the first introductions to how we are, you know, as humans harming the environment with our actions, and I think you touched on something that is a really good point in terms of the effect on the environment.

Speaker 2: 4:17

I think that's something that, when talking about organic versus conventional, is something that is often forgotten, because I think one of the biggest emphasis in the nutritional world is the impact on the human body not necessarily the environment or the earth.

Speaker 2: 4:36

So it's a two-sided, you know conversation and, I think, one that's been contentious in the past and still is, but it's something that we definitely know, with climate change taking place and so many different things that consumers are now aware of, that these types of chemicals really can impact so many different things across society, and we're starting to learn more and more about that and become definitely aware, yeah, yeah, so it's important to talk about these things. You know a little bit more and understand maybe some of how, um, these regulations came into place, and so the environmental working group really came about, uh, with this mission, basically to create this type of list ever since 2004, as a shopper's guide to pesticides and produce, to educate the public about pesticides in our most popular fruits and vegetables. So what do you know about the environmental working group? Are they, you know? Do they work under the government? Are they their own separate entity? How does that work?

Speaker 3: 5:50

Yeah, I think that they've been around since 1993. They are not part of the government but it really often happens, you know, with many groups and organizations. These are people who are, you know, really trying to make an impact on people's lives and positive impact. You know, and they're a team of scientists, policy experts I believe there's lawyers and, you know, communication and data experts that really you know what they're trying to do, especially with this particular list, is to educate, I think, as you said, the public about those pesticides.

Speaker 3: 6:35

And when we say the pesticides, we're really talking about the residues that, after applications in the field of the fruits and the vegetables, about you know so many different pesticides. You know the level of the pesticides on the fruit and obviously then by the highest levels on some of these. You know fruits and vegetables, what that could potentially mean for somebody who is going to be eating that particular you know fruit or that particular vegetable. So it is something that they do tirelessly and they do it. I think the list comes out every year. They are basically compiling and analyzing data that is coming actually directly from samples and data that the US Department of Agriculture, the USDA and the Food and Drug Administration FDA already has. So I think that's a very important thing. To sort of note is that they're relying on, you know, data that the government and these agencies already are putting out there.

Speaker 2: 7:48

Right, and so that's something that definitely makes us feel better knowing that the data that they're utilizing is coming from government entities that regulate a lot of the things that are put out there in terms of nutritional guidelines and very different various you know things related to food. So it's, it's something that you know. For those listening, the dirty dozen might sound a little bit scary.

Speaker 3: 8:17

You know, what?

Speaker 2: 8:18

what does it actually mean?

Speaker 3: 8:20

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 8:20

This year the dirty dozen came out and there's various you know types of fruits and vegetables in there, but number one is, you know, the strawberries, and I think that's something that we should definitely talk about, because we grow strawberries in Florida.

Speaker 3: 8:36

For sure.

Speaker 2: 8:36

They grow locally, and so it's something that people listening might really be interested in hearing more about.

Speaker 3: 8:43

Yeah for sure. People listening might really be interested in hearing more about yeah for sure. And one of the things that I think we want to make sure that people listening understand is obviously the EWG once again comes up with this list every year and it is a list that is based on data, once again from USDA and FDA, that we're not saying you know that conventional strawberries are bad for you, but those people listening, once again, people listening out there that are concerned about perhaps you know some of those pesticides that will typically be on some of these crops, based again on this list. If they are concerned about those, then you know this is a list that they can sort of you know, look at and use to make you know, decisions. Strawberries in Florida, because of our climate, because of the you know type of pests that thrive, will need to be sprayed quite often. Typically, strawberries are planted sometime around September, from September to November, and then are harvested from December all the way to and here we are in June still April and May in June in the state. So the list of pesticides if anybody is curious, can actually go to any extension publication on pesticides in Florida and see some of the pesticides that are being sprayed on this and any crop for that matter.

Speaker 3: 10:18

But those pesticides that are approved for use, you know, in conventional crops, once again, can pose a sort of, you know, threat to the if they're not used properly. In fact, one thing that I want to say is that pesticides are regulated, heavily regulated, regulated, heavily regulated. In fact, one of the things that often happens when a pesticide is sprayed is that workers cannot come into that field for you know X number of hours. So that can already tell you that what they're trying to do by regulating it that way that there could be a potential risk to walk into a field that has been sprayed with a pesticide. So people obviously that spray also have all the protective gear they're wearing masks, they're wearing overalls, they're, you know, gloves and all those things. So, because you know this is a toxic material that we have to be very careful.

Speaker 3: 11:19

But then, once it's sprayed, as I said, you know there's sometimes, you know 24, 48 hour period that you know no one can come into that field. So what happens then after those 48 hours? You know workers come back. You know, if you know activities, field activities need to be done, they'll be able to do them. But do some of those pesticides remain on the fruit? Well, the answer is yes, and that's again how this list of the 30 dozen, actually you know, is generated. And so, yes, strawberries are in 2024 and regularly among the top you know crops that EWG lists, I think. The other crops include spinach, kale grapes, and other crops include spinach, kale grapes, peaches, pears, nectarines, apples, peppers is also on that list cherries, blueberries we also grow, you know, a lot of blueberries in Florida and green beans. So one thing that anybody obviously all of those consumers you know listening realize about all of these crops is that you don't necessarily have to peel any of these crops, especially the fruits, to eat them right?

Speaker 2: 12:32

That's where a lot of the nutrients actually live in the peel of the fruits and vegetables, and I think I learned that pretty early on in my nutritional career, but think oftentimes people don't. People might not know that even when they're peeling potato skins and cucumber skin, you know, like that's something that holds a lot of fiber and really good nutrients for our digestive tract and just all of our pretty much organ systems. Um, so it's, it's a really crucial element to our overall health as well.

Speaker 3: 13:06

Yeah, so yeah again, the idea that and sometimes people won't even, you know, wash their fruits after getting, if they get them from the farmer's market or, you know, the grocery store, and strawberries, for example, when they're picked they're not washed. They're typically, you know, picked right from the field into the same little, you know basket container clamshell that you're going to find, you know, when you go to the grocery store. So you have to wash them. When you know consumers have to wash their fruits when they get home to wash them. When you know consumers have to wash their fruits when they get home, which is another thing that I guess we can talk about, you know, regarding how to try to be sort of safer when you eat. You know fruits and vegetables, but strawberries is one of those, again the top and, I believe, again the number one crop on the Dirty Dozen list.

Speaker 2: 14:04

Yeah, and I want to, I definitely want to go into, you know, actions that people can take to maybe mitigate some of these things.

Speaker 2: 14:11

Because, as you mentioned before, I think what's really important to to understand is that consumption of fruits and the food industry, you know, and it's something that is kind of like the gems of agriculture, you know they're jam packed with nutrients and antioxidants and it's preventative, you know, for chronic disease.

Speaker 2: 14:42

So there's a lot of different benefits to be aware of, you know, on that realm. But, you know, I vividly remember doing a debate actually on this topic in at the University of Miami and there was, you know, two sides to understanding organic consumption, you know, and its impact on nutrition. And I want to also make it clear to people listening that, you know, some folks believe that organic doesn't use pesticides at all, when in fact that's not really. You know, the case it's that organic agriculture has a much shorter list of pesticides than you would typically see in conventional agriculture, and so that's something also I want to shed light on, since there's other trends also that allude to organic having no pesticides usage, and that might be the case for some growers that are practicing some sustainable practices, but for USDA organic. We know that there is a more selective list of pesticides. Is that correct?

Speaker 3: 15:53

That is correct and one of the things, a couple of sort of just things that I hope that you know, everybody listening you'll remember. So, lana, you're correct, pest control products or pesticides, are allowed under the organic regulations, the maybe peace of mind or confidence that the practices and everything that had to be done to get that fruit to your table has been regulated. Under the USDA National Organic Program, organic farmers are inspected. They need to provide a plan of all their practices, they need to provide a list of all the inputs or materials that they use to grow their crops, and so the list of pest control products, which is typically how, you know, we call them in the organic world, or certifiers, you know, include natural pest control products, you know, derived from natural ingredients, and natural ingredients and a few synthetic that have been shown that are also safe pest control products. But, like you said, it's a much shorter list.

Speaker 3: 17:20

I believe maybe around perhaps 15, 20 of those particular products in the organic production systems, compared to 90 or so, perhaps even more, pesticides that are now allowed in conventional systems.

Speaker 3: 17:38

But remember, and this is something that I was saying, many of those pesticides that were used five, 10 years ago eventually get banned, many of them because, again, they showed that their use has shown to be harmful to the environment, in some cases also to people's health. And so, yes, you're absolutely right about the comparison between conventional and organic and the use of pest control products. There's emerging evidence that suggests that many of these conventional pesticides, synthetic pesticides, can disrupt things like hormonal systems in humans, and obviously there's more studies and continuously doctors are looking more and more at some of these things, things that have been linked to miscarriages, birth defects and some other developmental writes in all of his books and recommends is to try to stay away from, you know, some of these. Again, he actually, in one of his books, talks about the 30 dozen and he kind of, you know, suggests that whenever possible, try to eat organic because you know he, as a doctor, is concerned and has seen throughout his life as a doctor the many problems that people who've been exposed to harmful chemicals suffer from.

Speaker 2: 19:17

Yeah, definitely, and I found that so interesting.

Speaker 2: 19:19

You know that we came across the fact that we were reading a book by the same author on brain health, and so it's yeah, it's something to me that I find really interesting because, you know, as someone who's been kind of really aware of my health due to, like my childhood illness that I faced, there was a lot of different things that were brought to my attention at a very early age and I had to learn.

Speaker 2: 19:49

You know very quickly that you know what you put in your body really affects your overall health, and you know same goes again, you know, for the environment, as you're talking earlier. But it's a two pronged, you know, thing that we have to think about. You know more holistically. We have to think about more holistically and it's something that I want to be very clear that we never want to mitigate consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. Those are things that are very important for our health, but it's always good to be aware of what is being sprayed on these items and how does that affect us in our overall environment. So, speaking of consumer awareness, how do you think consumers should really take the next steps in being more self-conscious and more actionable on how they consume. You know their fruits and vegetables.

Speaker 3: 20:49

So certainly, I think one of the things and you as a nutritionist obviously can, you know, provide, even you know, more information about the importance, as you mentioned, of eating fruits and vegetables. When it comes to the types of crops or types of fruits and vegetables, once again, you know, my suggestion is eat what's in season. Obviously, you know I mentioned before and that I would probably take somebody who's really, really, I guess, concerned about exposure to some of these chemicals to go and look at, you know, the way that you know these crops may be, you know, be produced, and some of the pesticides and some of the things that are approved for use. Talk to your farmers Again, those people that listen, regular listeners, and go to farmers markets. There's things that you can obviously find out by just speaking to them. If you're buying stuff from the grocery store, once again, you know, again, we provided the list you can go to the EWG website and find the latest Dirty Dozen list my suggestion is that and I mentioned it earlier that, regardless of whether you're buying conventional or organic, I think it's a good practice to wash your foods, you know, after you bring them from the store or the farmer's market. It's a good practice to wash your fruits, you know, after you bring them from the store or the farmer's market. It's a good practice, in my opinion, Absolutely, you know. So that's one thing that I, certainly you know, would suggest. And obviously I think there are some things all of these crops and all of these fruits and things that we've discussed typically eaten fresh. But you know, whenever possible, if there's things that we've discussed typically eaten fresh. But you know, whenever possible, if there's things that need to be cooked. And obviously I think the best you know thing to do is to make sure.

Speaker 3: 22:35

You're talking about potatoes. That was something that I, you know for the longest time. Growing up, you would always peel your potatoes, but you know, guess what? I don't. I don't ever do that anymore, except we're just washing them. Um, you know, they're actually, to me at least, much tastier when you keep the peel on, on yes, I think so too.

Speaker 2: 22:55

I think so too, and I want to talk a little bit more about washing, because I know there's so many different products out there now that even exist, that are like considered vegetable wash or even trends that. I'm seeing that use apple cider vinegar baking soda. You know. I've seen so many different things, even just salt, adding salt to a water bath, you know, and having your produce sit in that. Are there different measures that you think might work better than others?

Speaker 3: 23:26

You know, and I honestly don't know, lana, but you bring up something that I've been curious about, which is vinegar, and just I even I think I saw because obviously you know this day and age, you can learn so much from the internet and from people you know on some of these various platforms is that if you drop your strawberries and blueberries in a bath of you know vinegar with water and leave them for a couple of hours, you know that that is can be very effective in getting rid of some of the not just the dirt, but some of the things that might be on that, on that peel.

Speaker 3: 24:07

Now, again, because I'm no expert, I would just again recommend to people to do your research, try to go to reliable sources. University of Florida has information about this sort of thing that here in Florida I would certainly recommend for people to check out. I would certainly, you know, recommend for people to check out, but just always be cautious. I think in terms of just even cleaning them by, you know, washing them, I can can, I feel, do a lot of good.

Speaker 2: 24:38

I think so too, and I don't know if it's something that I just grew up, you know, knowing as a child of immigrants that were. You know constantly that we consume a lot of produce, so in the Mediterranean diet it's a staple All of the fruits and vegetables we consume on a daily basis, and so my own mother is very adamant on making sure everything is washed, to the point that we have our own, you know, salad washer and all these types of different, you know, equipment that we have now in the kitchen and take up a lot of space, but, yeah, are worth it, I think, in my opinion.

Speaker 2: 25:19

So, yeah, I think there's um, it's, it's, it's good, I think, to utilize again more natural substances that we can find or even consume on a daily basis, such as vinegar, such as table salt have been shown basically to be used in some cleaning products. So I think there is definitely something to look into a little bit more from a consumer's perspective, and I know that there's also the Clean 15 that we didn't talk about.

Speaker 3: 25:50

Well, yeah, no, I was just. You read my mind because I was just thinking. We got to make sure that we also mentioned the Clean 15, that the EWG also puts out. You know, along with the 30 dozen, there's a list of crops that they put out every year and basically, I guess what they're trying to say that, compared to these other crops that we've talked about, are safe to eat and do not have. I guess maybe the best way to say is that they don't have the pesticide residues levels that these other crops have, and I think those include sweet corn, avocados who doesn't love avocados?

Speaker 3: 26:32

Pineapples, onions, papayas, sweet peas, asparagus, honeydews, honeydew, melons, kiwis, cabbage, watermelon, mushrooms, mangoes we're talking about potatoes, but actually on the list are sweet potatoes and carrots. I think that's the clean 15. I hope I didn't miss any because I wrote all this down. So the one thing about it if anybody again, you know, just can think about these crops, most of these are protected by. In the case of corn, you know the husk Avocado has a pretty thick peel Pineapple, same thing. You know the husk avocado has a pretty thick peel Pineapple, same thing. You know papayas. You know so most of these crops. You wouldn't necessarily bite into them like you would a strawberry or an apple or a peach. You know you're going to have to peel them to be able to get to the good stuff.

Speaker 2: 27:26

Yeah, and I was about to say something that I gathered when I first discovered Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15 is kind of just this overall concept that if something has a thick peel or something that you can kind of remove layers like the onion, like the pineapple and different things that we don't typically eat the outer layer of then you're typically safe in terms of knowing that it's not going to absorb a lot of those pesticides, whereas if it has a softer exterior, such as berries, peaches you know that are more inclined to absorb some of those things. Then that's kind of an easier way of thinking of it. If you're not going to be, you know, trying to wrap your head around. You know getting this list every year. So that's another way, I think is a good technique in terms of understanding.

Speaker 2: 28:25

Possibly you know what produce might be more absolvent of some of those things. You know what produce might be more absolvent of some of those things, right, yep? So I think we you know we have discussed a lot of different things today in terms of how to be more aware of you know what you're consuming, how it impacts your health and the environment, and I want to touch one more minute about the environmental aspect. What are some of the environmental harms that we've seen from some of the pesticide usage?

Speaker 3: 29:00

Well, for sure, and I think you know, we started discussing Rachel Carlson and Silent Spring and you know, when the book was written, people, many people, didn't really, you know, believe her and thought that this was something that was a problem.

Speaker 3: 29:19

Over time we've noticed more and more that pesticides will many times end up in water, and sometimes in the water that we're going to eventually drink. So that's a concern. Or you know the water that's being used to give to animals, the fact that when many of these pesticides are sprayed there is a restriction in when you can come into the field but that pesticide is going somewhere, it's going in the soil or it's going into the environment, in the air, people breathing these pesticides you know that live around some of these farms can, and there's more studies, obviously but that eventually maybe cause some health problems. There's enough evidence there, I think, to suggest that unregulated or just kids playing sometimes around places where farms and a lot of pesticides or being sprays can, can be something of a concern in my opinion that shows that this has led to some detrimental impacts on the environment, the, you know, human health animals that live in that region and Rome, you know.

Speaker 3: 31:00

So there's multiple, yeah, and one of the things that I also wanted to mention you know, lana, and that I forgot to mention earlier. So, in terms of the environment, in terms of the use of pesticides, I remember when I was a student and I happened to be working in a greenhouse, whenever we had to spray because there was a particular you know pest or you know a disease that was really, you know, harming the crop, we would spray. But we had inside the greenhouse, as we were growing vegetables, we had bumblebees, because bumblebees are pollinators. Pesticide labels said that we needed to take out the bees. Obviously, when we spray so that already is probably telling you something there the bees, like most insects, can be harmed by those pesticides. So we had to take the bees out, right so? But not only are the bees being harmed if exposed to pesticides, but the beneficial insects. So that's one of the things that I also think.

Speaker 3: 32:03

When we talk about the environment, we're talking about everything. Beneficial insects have been shown populations to be reduced when there's a lot of pesticides, you know, that are used. Something happened actually, you know, when we were working in the greenhouse, that at some point we decided that we were going to try not to spray, and it wasn't like we were spraying a lot and again, this was mostly research and for educational purposes but we started noticing that there are population of beneficial insects that are actually eating or consuming some of the pests, like aphids, for example. Just population just went up and we were actually able to keep them at check, meaning that there was no more reason to be spraying for pests because our beneficial insect population was high enough to be able to just keep them from spreading pesticides, and what it does to living things could be something that you know.

Speaker 3: 33:14

Another reason why we should just be careful when farmers are deciding to use pesticides and organic farmers that's another thing that I wanted to mention is that when we're talking about those, you know, pest control products that are allowed, they're always the last line of defense and it is something that they need to comply with, meaning that before they decide that they're going to use a pest control product, organic farmers need to be using preventive practices. They need to be using cultural practices and anything that has shown to be able to manage and control pests and that typically is called integrated pest management IPM but only when all of those practices have not shown to be enough to manage those pests is when they're allowed to use pest control products, but only those that are allowed under the organic regulations.

Speaker 2: 34:09

Right, and that's a really good thing to point out, because I not until I started working with Florida Organic Growers did I really understand that this was the case and that you know there is this is a, you know, a highly regulated process that obviously has a lot of people, you know, involved in terms of making sure that we're doing things according to plan, in terms of trying to make it as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible. So I think that's something that our listeners could definitely, you know, feel more comfortable with and, you know, we hope, obviously this episode will equip you with the knowledge that you need to make healthier, more informed decisions about the fruits and vegetables that you consume. Absolutely, yeah, you know. A big, big thank you to you, jc, as our guest and co-host, you know, for sharing your valuable insights on this topic today.

Speaker 3: 35:16

Thank you, lana. It's always really enjoyable for me to be in Fresh Steak, so keep up the good work, keep informing people about all these various important topics and I hope that you know all of the listeners out there keep coming and you know, turning into fresh steak.

Speaker 2: 35:34

Thank you so much and remember to everyone listening. You know, while the Dirty Dozen list highlights produce with higher pesticide residues, it's important to not let it deter you from eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. Consider opting, you know, for organic options when possible, especially for items. You know for organic options when possible, especially for items you know on the dirty dozen list, and always remember to wash your produce very thoroughly. So until next time, stay informed and continue to nourish your body with the best nature has to offer. Thank you.

Speaker 1: 36:08

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