Wash your produce in a mixture of white vinegar and water to remove pesticides before serving.
Soaking produce in a bath of approximately 10% white vinegar and 90% water for up to an hour removes many pesticides from produce. You can also use a mixture of 1 tbsp. lemon juice, 2 tablespoons baking soda, and 1 cup of water in a spray bottle by the sink for quickly rinsing fruits and veggies before eating. Spray on, let sit for 5-10 minutes, rinse and enjoy!
Note that soaking is not a good solution for delicate fruits like berries which have skin that may be damaged by the vinegar. (Berries when not grown organically have some of the highest pesticide residue levels due to their porous skins.)
For more information about pesticide exposure and to learn which conventional fruits and veggies have the highest residue levels, check out the Environmental Working Group’s 2014 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce.
Yours in Health,
Dr. Erin O’Maley
