A survey released on the 13th by a U.S. consumer protection group indicated that, according to a test report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as many as 98% of 700 apple samples had pesticide residues. Among vegetables, celery had the highest pesticide residues, making it no exaggeration to say that apples and celery are the "dirtiest fruits and vegetables."
According to statistics from Taiwan's Council of Agriculture, my country imported approximately 40,000 metric tons of apples from the United States last year, ranking second in import volume. However, from January to May this year, China imported nearly 29,000 metric tons of apples from the United States, moving up to first place.
Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration stated that in 2009, the pesticide "amphetamine" was repeatedly detected in US apples at customs. Taiwan revised its pesticide residue safety limits to 0.5 ppm, and in the past two years, instances of US apples failing pesticide residue standards have become rare. Conversely, South Korean apples have repeatedly violated Taiwan's pesticide residue regulations in the past two years, leading to a 100% customs border inspection rate.
The Environmental Task Force, a U.S. nonprofit consumer protection organization, published the "2011 Pesticide Residue Guidelines" based on inspections by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The guidelines listed the "12 Dirtiest Fruits and Vegetables," with strawberries, peaches, spinach, imported nectarines, imported grapes, bell peppers, potatoes, local blueberries, lettuce, and cabbage ranking after apples and celery. Vegetables with the fewest pesticide residues included onions, corn, pineapples, avocados, and asparagus.
The Environmental Task Force stated that, based on the daily "12 dirtiest fruits and vegetables," the following fruits and vegetables, after apples and celery, are strawberries, peaches, spinach, imported nectarines, imported grapes, bell peppers, potatoes, local blueberries, lettuce, and cabbage; while the fruits and vegetables with the least pesticide residues include onions, corn, pineapples, avocados, and asparagus.
The Environmental Task Force stated that if you choose 5 servings from the "12 dirtiest fruits and vegetables" to eat every day, you will ingest an average of 14 different pesticides per day; if you choose 5 servings from 15 clean fruits and vegetables, you may ingest less than 2 pesticides per day on average.
Three recent studies have indicated that pesticide ingestion in early childhood may lead to long-term problems with learning, memory, and behavior. The U.S. Environmental Task Force stated that this guide aims to help consumers identify the best options among conventional products and to inform them which fruits and vegetables they might consider purchasing organic.
