USDA: Pesticide Levels are Safe; Eat your vegetables!

USDA recently released its 2010 annual summary of pesticide labels.  The conclusion is that pesticide levels are safe.

Statement from USDA:
“Age-old advice remains the same: eat more fruits and vegetables and wash them before you do
so.  Health and nutrition experts encourage the consumption of fruits and vegetables in every
meal as part of a healthy diet. This message is affirmed in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
released last year, in USDA’s My Plate, as well as federal nutrition guidance that urges people to
make half their plate fruits and vegetables.”  

Since its inception, the program has tested 105 commodities including fresh and processed fruit
and vegetables, meat and poultry, grains, catfish, rice, specialty products, and water.  The data is
a valuable tool for consumers, food producers and processors, chemical manufacturers,
environmental interest groups, and food safety organizations. 

A commentary on Food Safety News notes that good news such as this gets little attention.  You can see the 2010 Summary here. The report itself is about 200 pages.  In addition to the summary, USDA publishes information for consumers regarding the pesticide summary on the Pesticide Data Program website.

Posted by Donna M. Byrne, William Mitchell College of Law