November 11, 2003

Enviro-scare tactics - pesticide residue

from Fox News bq. The New York Times reported this week that “apples, peppers, celery and cherries top a list compiled by an environmental research organization of the 12 fruits and vegetables it considers the most contaminated by pesticides.” bq. The brief 201-word article is an excellent example of hit-and-run reporting designed to scare rather than inform readers. bq. The article breezily reported that the Environmental Working Group used government data to “rank pesticide contamination” for 46 fruits and vegetables. “The most-contaminated list also includes imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach and strawberries” while “the 12 considered least contaminated are asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cauliflower, corn, kiwi, mangoes, onions, papayas, pineapples and sweet peas,” reported the Times. bq. The article reported that EWG’s so-called “dirty dozen” list remains the same as their initial list published in 1993, but concluded that “the availability of organic produce (search) has made it easier to avoid most pesticides.” What is at issue here is that we now have the ability to detect molecular levels of anything. The presence of pesticides is not anything to be scared about if the quantity is small (which it was in these studies - well below any regulatory threshold). Another thing to be concerned with is that (to quote from the article): bq. The EWG report was financed by Stonyfield Farm, the largest organic yogurt manufacturer and hardly a disinterested party. Stonyfield markets its products by scaring consumers with labels claiming, “No yucky stuff … standards prohibit the use of pesticides, antibiotics and hormones” and “yogurts made without the use of antibiotics, hormones and toxic pesticides.” and bq. The Times reported that apples, cherries, peaches, raspberries and strawberries were among the “dirty dozen” fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide contamination. bq. Coincidentally (or not), Stonyfield just happens to offer organic yogurt in these very flavors. How convenient. bq. Was Stonyfield’s sponsorship and business interest mentioned in the Times article? Of course not. Interesting... A detailed overview of the Environmental Working Group can be found at the excellent Consumer Freedom website. Here is their homepage. Posted by DaveH at November 11, 2003 1:45 PM