20-06-2015, 12:20 AM
1
The Dirty Dozen
They tell us to eat lots of fruit and vegetables, but do you buy organically grown produce?My health magazine says (and I do happen to believe this), that all the pesticides used in growing food, seep into our fruit/veg and cannot be simply washed off by running things under the tap.
Last year, an international study led by researchers in the UK, found that "eating organic" could be equivalent to having an extra two portions of the recommended 5 a day.
There are 12 prime suspects viewed as being the "Dirty Dozen" in order of pesticide contamination which are as follows:
Apples
Peaches
Nectarines
Strawberries
Grapes
Celery
Spinach
Sweet bell Peppers
Cucumbers
Cherry tomatoes
Snap peas (imported)
Potatoes
Apparently, we would benefit from eating all these organically.
It is said washing produce in cider vinegar and water helps to kill 99% of bacteria on the surface of these fruit and veg.
Another study recorded 49% lower sperm counts in men consuming the highest levels of pesticides on fruit & veg.
Do you eat organically?
20-06-2015, 06:17 AM
3
Re: The Dirty Dozen
I have read that soft fruits such as strawberries are the worst at holding pesticides.I buy organic sometimes but what I do try is to limit the airmiles on my food.
I avoid fruit from south america where I know they still use chemicals banned in Europe.Recently lidl had limes from Brazil and there was a warning on the wrapping that people should not eat or grate the peel because of chemical residue!
Theres been a lot of conflicting advice about the real benefits of organic lately and Im sure some overseas producers lie about the origen of their products , similarly the fairtrade clothes that were produced in a sweat shop and had the fair trade labels sewn in elsewhere.
I try to eat healthily but at the end of the day its my wallet that has the deciding vote.
20-06-2015, 07:45 AM
5
Re: The Dirty Dozen
I'm not organic over my allotment, I'm afraid to say, or I never look at the packaging to check. But I only use slug pellets and liquid fertilisers, along with the powdered stuff we sell (lime around the brassicas, and have yet to put down blood, fish and bone).But I do put down the manure and compost we have delivered, and produce grows beautifully. And yes, I don't have evident health problems.
There is a cooking apple and pear tree available for public picking, and there used to be blackberries everywhere until the council destroyed bushes preparing plots for new tenants, and none of these get pesticides put down on them, so I try to pick them when ready.
Also, my own fruit - jostaberry and the damson when it finally fruits - is never fertilised (I'd run out of the stuff in no time).
But as for when buying in shops...no, I don't buy organic because of the extra cost.
20-06-2015, 09:16 AM
6
Re: The Dirty Dozen
I eat organic whenever I can which is not difficult around here. There are a number of organic farms, shops, Waitrose sells a lot of organic vegetables too.I don't use any chemicals in the garden so the things I grow myself are pesticide free.
I use organic oranges to make marmalade and organic lemons for cooking because I am using the skin.
I find some organic fruit and veg really does taste better particularly carrots /cucumber/courgettes and soft fruit.
My three grandchildren have been brought up on BLW (baby led weaning) where they eat any baby food at all and feed themselves with whole food including organic fruit and vegetables (and no sugar or salt) .
One of the twins enjoying vegetables, BLW is incredibly messy
20-06-2015, 10:06 AM
8
Re: The Dirty Dozen
Given the fact that the benefits of eating "organic" are at best marginal and at worst no different from non-organic fruit and vegetables, I could not justify spending the ridiculous amounts of extra money on it. I am addicted to walnuts and have a lovely little Pakistani shop near me who keeps me supplied at £4.99 per kilo (in shell) while they are in season. Our local trendy organic greengrocer sells much lower quality walnuts (in shell) at £9.99 per kilo. Why would I pay double the price for inferior quality just because they are "organic"?20-06-2015, 01:43 PM
9
Re: The Dirty Dozen
Originally Posted by Cass
->
I have read that soft fruits such as strawberries are the worst at holding pesticides.I buy organic sometimes but what I do try is to limit the airmiles on my food.
I avoid fruit from south america where I know they still use chemicals banned in Europe.Recently lidl had limes from Brazil and there was a warning on the wrapping that people should not eat or grate the peel because of chemical residue!
Theres been a lot of conflicting advice about the real benefits of organic lately and Im sure some overseas producers lie about the origen of their products , similarly the fairtrade clothes that were produced in a sweat shop and had the fair trade labels sewn in elsewhere.
I try to eat healthily but at the end of the day its my wallet that has the deciding vote.
That is very worrying Cass. Do they honestly think that what's on the peel hasn't penetrated any further? It's porous isn't it - same as our own skins.
20-06-2015, 03:02 PM
10
Re: The Dirty Dozen
[QUOTE=Meg;667518]I eat organic whenever I can which is not difficult around here. There are a number of organic farms, shops, Waitrose sells a lot of organic vegetables too.I don't use any chemicals in the garden so the things I grow myself are pesticide free.
I use organic oranges to make marmalade and organic lemons for cooking because I am using the skin.
I find some organic fruit and veg really does taste better particularly carrots /cucumber/courgettes and soft fruit.
My three grandchildren have been brought up on BLW (baby led weaning) where they eat any baby food at all and feed themselves with whole food including organic fruit and vegetables (and no sugar or salt) .
One of the twins enjoying vegetables, BLW is incredibly messy
Good on yer Meg. And good you are teaching the babies they don't need all that salt and sugar a lot of kids have too.
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