{"id":12121,"date":"2017-12-01T10:18:13","date_gmt":"2017-12-01T18:18:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foodrevolution.org\/?p=12121"},"modified":"2026-09-03T11:48:39","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T18:48:39","slug":"how-to-wash-vegetables-fruits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foodrevolution.org\/blog\/how-to-wash-vegetables-fruits\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Wash Vegetables and Fruits to Remove Pesticides"},"content":{"rendered":"

Almost everyone should be eating more fruits and vegetables<\/a>. In the US, the average American only gets about half the recommended daily serving amounts<\/a>, and even those amounts are less than the optimal amount of five-a-day<\/a>. But do you know why it\u2019s important not just to eat more fruits and vegetables, but also to wash your produce before eating it?<\/p>\n

In our modern world, almost no food is 100% free of pesticides. Surprisingly, even organic produce<\/a> may contain some pesticide residues.<\/p>\n

Washing produce is important to prevent foodborne illness and substantially reduce your exposure to pesticides.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The best way to reduce your pesticide exposure is to choose organic food when you can (bonus points if it\u2019s homegrown!), especially for the foods most likely to be contaminated with pesticides<\/a>. But whether buying conventional or organic produce, it’s also important to wash your store-bought fruits and veggies before eating or cooking with them.<\/p>\n

So which foods are the most important to buy organic? And what is the best way to wash fruit and vegetables to remove pesticides?<\/p>\n

Luckily, science has given us answers, and we\u2019re going to share them with you. We want to help you make the best of your time and money to ensure the food you\u2019re eating and serving is as safe as possible.<\/p>\n

Why Are Pesticides Used on Produce?<\/h2>\n
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According to the EPA<\/a>, pesticides are used to control pests and other disease carriers, such as mosquitoes, ticks, rats, and mice. They are also used to control weeds, insect infestations, and diseases.<\/p>\n

There are many types of pesticides, including:<\/p>\n