Do you like cauliflower? Asparagus? Cranberry juice? Do you enjoy a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast? If so, you are in luck! Cauliflower, asparagus, cranberry juice, mushrooms, oats, seeds, and corn have been found to have the least amount of exposure to pesticides and herbicides according to the FDA’s annual Pesticide Residue Monitoring Report. The analysis involved 2,078 human food samples which were tested for 716 kinds of pesticides, 27 herbicides, glyphosate, glufosinate, and the byproducts caused by the breakdown of these chemicals. The findings are alarming; 76.7% of domestic fruits, 59.9% of vegetables, and 52.6% of grain products were contaminated with herbicide and pesticide residues, however, 96.8% of domestic and 88.4% of imported foods were considered compliant with the Environmental Protection Agency’s federal standards for safety. One of the most concerning chemicals used for weed control is glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup. Some studies have shown that exposure to large amounts of this chemical may increase risk of cancer, especially on-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The Environmental Protection Agency’s official position is that it does not cause cancer, but experts question their methods of testing. In fact, the state of California does not agree with the EPA’s position so firmly that they added glyphosate to their list of carcinogens in 2017. This infographic visualizes the FDA’s findings to show which foods have the most and least exposure to pesticides and herbicides. So which are the worst culprits? 100% of domestic oranges, 100% of domestic cherries, and 100% of domestic broccoli were found to be contaminated. Combining both domestic and imported food data, 95.8$ of raspberries, 92.9% of peaches, and 85.2% of cucumbers were found to have pesticide and/or herbicide residue. This knowledge can help consumers make more informed choices to keep themselves and their families safe regardless of the EPA’s standards.
