- Fruits and vegetables
are usually thought of as health foods,
but as we know, pesticides
can change that.
- Healthy Living reporter Cristen Manion
tells us about the dirty dozen.
- [Cristen] Pesticides and fertilizers
linger long after the fruits
have been picked or plucked.
- That level isn't necessarily
considered toxic or unsafe.
- [Cristen] The dirty dozen
list has popular foods
like strawberries, spinach,
apples, and even potatoes.
Kathleen Durkin, a clinical
dietician at Akron Children's
says that while fruits and veggies
are essential for growing bodies,
kids are more at risk for the chemicals.
- Children would be more sensitive
to the pesticides or the
synthetic fertilizers
because they're still developing.
- [Cristen] Durkin says
while it's impossible
to get rid of all of
the pesticide residue,
there are some things parents
can do to try and help.
- These foods were tested
after they were cleaned,
cleaned and peeled.
So you still have the risk
of absorbing some of
the pesticide residue.
- [Cristen] Cleaning is simple.
Durkin says toss the berries in a colander
under running water.
- [Durkin] Lightly so
they don't get too smashed
by the water.
- [Cristen] And then dry them thoroughly.
For harder produce, like
apples and potatoes,
use a small brush
and scrub the outside
with a mixture of white vinegar and water.
- Again, just kind of
removing any visible soil.
- But Kathleen says
it's not a scare tactic,
just an opportunity to be more
mindful about what you eat.
You don't necessarily need to pick
only foods that are on the clean 15
and avoid the dirty dozen.
It's just, again, remembering
that those may have a higher amount
and that might be the time
to choose an organic food.
