TIP TALKS

 

The e-Newsletter of the

Toxics Information Project (TIP)

 

May, 2011

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  TIP TALKS: FOOD & PESTICIDE RESIDUES
-                            An Alert & Some Info, May 23, 2011
                                             
                                                  TOPICS
**ACTION:  From Environmental Working Group (Ewg) - Against
Disinformation About Pesticide Residues In Food:
**EXCERPTS FROM A DISCUSSIN With A CONCERNED MOTHER
OF BEST WAYS TO AVOID PESTICIDE RESIDUES:
Pesticide Residue Avoidance:  Tip’s List Taken From Various Sources,
**News You Can Use: A Few Foods That Don’t Bite Back, EWG Reports More
Than Half Our Total Dietary Risk From Pesticides Comes From Just 12
Foods:

NOTE: I WILL BE REORGANIZING MY CONTACTS TO FOCUS ON TOPICS
OF INTEREST TO EACH.  ONE CATEGORY WILL BE "FOOD".  TO SIMPLIFY
THE TASK, I WILL FIRST BE SENDING INFO TO EVERYONE, THEN REMOVING
NAMES FROM CATEGORIES AS PEOPLE REQUEST.  LET ME KNOW IF YOU
DO NOT WANT TO RECEIVE MORE FOOD INFO.

I. ACTION:  FROM ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP (EWG) - AGAINST
DISINFORMATION ABOUT PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN FOOD:
The response to last week's petition to the United States Department of
Agriculture has been overwhelming!  As a result, we have sent
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and several other USDA employees the
signatures of nearly 55,000 EWG supporters demanding that tax dollars
not get spent on disinformation campaigns about pesticides on food.
This is one of the strongest responses EWG has ever seen from our online
activists.

If you didn't get a chance last week, it's not too late for you to add
your name and ask your friends and family to add theirs as well. The
USDA has not yet released this year's data on pesticide residues on
produce. Pesticide companies and big agribusiness interests have cranked
up their pressure on the USDA to spin the upcoming release of government
pesticide tests and downplay risks.

Click below to sign our petition today. It's unacceptable for your tax
dollars to fund disinformation about pesticides on food.It's
unacceptable for your tax dollars to fund disinformation about
pesticides on food.

http://action.ewg.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1906&utm_source=2011natorganicsactionupdate&utm_medium=email&utm_content=topper&utm_campaign=food
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2..  EXCERPTS FROM A DISCUSSION WITH A CONCERNED MOTHER OF BEST WAYS TO AVOID PESTICIDE RESIDUES
LIBERTY G:  A caution about the "all-natural" peanut butter.
"All-natural" is a term with no meaning.  Worse, peanuts were found to
be the most heavily pesticided crop in a study some years back.  The
safest thing is to buy only organic PB, especially if you have kids, who
eat lots of it.  It's not that expensive if you figure the number of
meals you get from one jar.  Also, avoid the plastic jars, and go for
the glass.  Check out: www.whatsonmyfood.org/food.jsp?food=PB
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MOTHER:  What a disturbing, depressing website!  Actually, that site
makes peanut butter look like one of the better options, with ONLY 9
ID'ed pesticides on the list.  Most of the fruits had 40+ ID'ed
pesticides!  I think I will now be eating a diet of onions & sweet corn!
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LIBERTY G:  So sorry to depress you!  I really try with my organization
to emphasize finding less toxic alternatives - and not worrying too
much.  The good news is that although we can't be completely non-toxic,
by reducing our exposure to the most common or most hazardous chemicals,
we can allow our bodies to handle the rest, and stay healthy.  Here are
some practical tips on finding foods with less pesticides, taken from
my booklet, "Food Facts & Fantasy"  (It is on my TIP website at:
http://toxicsinfo.org/TIPS_house.htm
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                      PESTICIDE RESIDUE AVOIDANCE: 
            TIP’S LIST TAKEN FROM VARIOUS SOURCES
VILLAINS:  Strawberries, Apples, Mexican Cantaloupe, Green Beans,
Cherries, Cucumbers, Imported Grapes, Mexican Pineapples, Peppers,
Peaches, Peanuts, Pears, Potatoes, Raisins, Spinach, Squash. 
HEROES:  Asparagus, Avocados, Sprouts, Lentils, Onions, Pineapple
Juice, Hawaiian Pineapples, Sunflower Seeds, Watermelon.
MIXED REVIEWS; Bananas, Tomatoes, Broccoli, Rice, Grapes, Corn,
Sweet Potatoes
                                   
    NEWS YOU CAN USE: A FEW FOODS THAT DON’T BITE BACK
From:  NON-TOXIC TIMES, The Seventh Generation Newsletter
Vol. 1, No. 9, June 19, 2000 www.seventhgen.com  According  to
the Environmental Working Group (EWG), the 12 cleanest kinds of
conventionally-grown produce are:  J Avocados, Corn, Onions, Sweet
Potatoes, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts, Grapes (domestic only),
Bananas, Plums, Green Onions, Watermelon, Broccoli

  EWG REPORTS MORE THAN HALF OUR TOTAL DIETARY RISK
      FROM PESTICIDES COMES FROM JUST 12 FOODS: 
Strawberries, Bell Peppers, Spinach, Cherries, Peaches, Mexican
Cantaloupe, Celery, Apples, Apricots, Green Beans, Imported Grapes,
Cucumbers.  Avoiding these foods, substituting from the clean list
above, eating organic and/or homegrown produce when possible can
substantially cut down on exposure to pesticides.  However, corn
and sweet potatoes are among foods most likely to be genetically
modified.  Consumers concerned about GM should choose organics.
By the way, one of the healthiest foods is really cheap even when
organic - carrots!  See Full report at:
www.ewg.org/pub/home/reports/Shoppers/Shoppers.html   
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MOTHER:  Thanks for your reply and the link to your website. 
My fear and frustration came from the fact the my family (especially
my 2-year-old daughter) LOVE the fruit on your Villains list...
especially the strawberries and grapes!  I just heard the gov approved
another horrible pesticide for strawberries.  What do you think about
these small, local farms who do "pick your own" produce?  They usually
do not advertise themselves as "organic", but I would hope they don't
douse their fruits and veggies in poisons for us to tromp through!
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LIBERTY G:  I am not familiar with specific "pick your own" farms in
the area.  My best advice if your kids love strawberries and grapes.

1.  Buy organic.  Even if prices seem high, compare them, per serving
to buying Twinkies or other junk food, and its not so bad.  Also, watch
for sales.  Note that Whole Foods is sometimes actually cheaper than
Stop & Shop.  Another tip - East Side Market has a policy of charging
the same price for organic as for "conventional" (pesticided).  They
don't always have the organic options for a particular fruit or veggie,
but it is worth checking.  There is an organic section towards the back
in the produce section.  There are also some good buys in organic food
at Trader Joe's, but they're not as convenient.

2.  Local farmers sometimes sell fruit or veggies which are grown
"without chemicals" - that is, organically, but without the government
certification process.  It is true that there is no guarantee that they
are telling the truth, but I believe the vast majority are honest about
that - they just can't afford the cost of being officially "Organic".
You can check these out at farmer's markets.

3.  There are good local sources for info about farms & their produce,
along with other useful info, in Rhode Island.  It is Farm Fresh RI:
www.farmfreshri.org  You can get good info at their site, including
some farms that indicate they are organic, or chemical-free, or use
integrated pest management.  You could also chat with the Farm Fresh
folks at (401) 312-4250.  They might have some ideas about the best
less-toxic sources.  Here are links to farm sources for strawberries
and other fruit:
www.farmfresh.org/food/pickyourown.php?zip=02909&show=25&startrow=1&food=16

In general, my philosophy is to Reduce exposure to pesticides, but don't
become overanxious about it.  It isn't possible to avoid absolutely
everything - and our bodies have a great ability to detox.  It is just
common sense to try not to overwhelm it.  So, eat organic where you can,
especially the high-pesticide stuff - or stuff you eat a lot of, like
kids with peanut butter.  Also, note that Whole Foods has some kind of
system that evaluates pesticide residues and keeps even the non-organic
stuff they sell to low levels.  Hope this is helpful.

 

 

**************************************************************     
Liberty Goodwin, Director
Toxics Information Project   
P.O. Box 40572,
Providence, RI 02940
Tel. 401-351-9193
Website: www.toxicsinfo.org
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