Can you wash away pesticides?

The short answer is no, not entirely. According to the National Pesticide Information Center, washing produce reduces pesticide levels but doesn't completely remove them. Some fruits and vegetables, for example, may have their residues sealed under a coating of shelf-life-extending wax.Aug 6, 2014 read more

Avoiding pesticide residues altogether can be done by buying certified organic produce. By FDA law, no pesticides can be used in the growing of these fruits and vegetables. But with organic, thorough washing is a must-do to avoid bacterial or other contaminants that might be consumed. read more

You should also take certain measures to minimize any kind of health damage. Here are three simple, do-it-yourself tricks you can adopt at home: Wash Your Food and Wash it Right. Wash all your fruits and vegetables. read more

Wash fruits and vegetables even if you do not plan to eat the skin. Wash your hands with soap and warm water before and after handling fresh fruits and vegetables. Hold the fruit or vegetable under flowing water in a strainer. This removes more pesticide than dunking the produce. The FDA does not recommend washing fruits and vegetables with soap, detergent, or commercial produce wash. read more