Removing Pesticides — Veggie Wash

When we buy food we want it to be good for us.  One way to help ensure that is to wash your fruits and veggies.  This can improve your food quality by reducing your exposure to pesticides.
Rinsing produce removers grime and dirt, but does not reduce pesticide residue.
Even organic produce is helped with a rinse.  To check  how tainted with pesticides your chosen produce is check here.

Some good news, research out of the University of Amherst found that soaking apples in a baking soda solution for a minimum of two minutes helps to remove pesticide residue.  Two pesticides were used in the study  thiabendazole (a systemic pesticide) and  phosmet were tested. The sad truth is a wide array of pesticides are used in our food products.

FRUIT/VEGGIE WASH

Submerging apples in a baking soda solution for a minimum of two minutes and ideally for twelve to fifteen minutes helps to completely remove pesticides tested in the University study.

1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups of water (filtered or spring water)

and for delicate fruits (such as your blueberries or grapes)  a DIY spray:
1 cup of water
2 tablespoons of baking soda
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
add the items to a spray bottle.
Spritz onto produce, allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes, rinse and pat dry.