Green Food & Drink

Which are the Most Contaminated and High-Pesticide Fruit and Vegetables

Sometimes called the "dirty dozen," there are twelve fruits and vegetables that are the most contaminated by pesticides and/or fungicides. Here is a list of the most contaminated produce in loosely descending order and the pesticides used on them. 1. Bell Peppers - Of vegetables contaminated with neurotoxic pesticides, bell peppers came out the winner (or loser, depending on how you look at it). They have a higher level of such neurological toxins than any other crop that has been tested. 2. Apples - Apples have substantially higher pesticide residues than other fruits and vegetables. They also have one of the greatest numbers of chemicals on their skins - at least thirty-six in one large test. 3. Strawberries - Fungicides like captan and iprodione are a problem on these vitamin C-rich fruits. These chemicals are probable human carcinogens according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Endosulfan is a pesticide that is related to DDT, and is commonly used on strawberries. Endosulfan, as the name implies, affects the human endocrine system, specifically the production of estrogen. 4. Spinach - The pesticides found on the leaves of spinach - permethrin and chlorothalonil to name two - are probable carcinogens. And they are found in high levels ...

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Brown, White, Organic, Free-Range Eggs – What’s the Difference

When you go to the grocery store with eggs on your list, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the choices. It can be confusing when the humble egg comes in varieties like organic, free-range, cage-free, brown, white, Omega-3, and any combination of these. Is there really a difference? Which eggs are healthiest? * Brown versus White Eggs - Perhaps it's the earthy color, but for some reason many people consider brown eggs more "natural" than white ones. Others claim there is a difference in taste or nutritional value. While taste can differ between various types of eggs, what makes an egg brown is the breed of hen that laid it, not the conditions under which the hen is kept. Brown eggs are not necessarily more nutritious than white ones. * Organic Eggs - Chickens that are fed organic feed produce eggs that can be labeled "organic." Organic feed contains only those ingredients that are grown and produced without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or insecticides. Organic eggs therefore would have no traces of these chemicals. Also, for eggs to be labeled organic, the hens must not receive antibiotics or hormones. * Vegetarian-Fed - Some egg cartons will note that the chickens are fed only vegetarian ...

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Bagged Salad – How Clean Is It?

In 2006, there was an outbreak of E.coli in the United States. There were 5 deaths and more than 200 cases of illness. The cause was contaminated, bagged spinach which the victims had been eaten raw. Also in 2006, pre-packaged iceberg lettuce served in restaurants resulted in another outbreak of E.coli. Understandably, people became concerned about pre-packaged leafy greens. How safe is bagged salad now? Consumer Reports tested an extensive sample of bagged salads and released the results in March 2010. While the deadly E.coli was not present, many other bacteria were. This indicates poor sanitation in the growing and processing of the greens. What Does It Mean? Obviously, many people consume greens from bagged salads every day with no apparent ill effect. However, the presence of the non-deadly bacteria does indicate unsanitary conditions. Thus, it would seem that the conditions still exist that could result in another E.coli outbreak. The problem is, it's frustratingly difficult to pin down just what causes one of these outbreaks. And with unsanitary conditions still in place, the potential for an outbreak to happen again is undeniable. What Is Meant by "Unsanitary Conditions"? When salad greens are in the field and after they are harvested, they are exposed to various potential ...

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Bottled Water Controversy

There is a real controversy going on about bottled water today.  Is it really better than tap water?  "The Story of Bottled Water" was released on YouTube in honor of World Water Day. This is an innovative narration on the problem with the bottled water we like to buy today. Almost immediately the "International Bottled Water Association" stated this video as sensational.  Then it brought out its short film stating the practices of sustainability, which their members participate with including brands such as Nestle. The bottled-water story though stated that the companies that bring out bottled water are frightening consumers into believing their tap water is contaminated and dirty, when at the same time they use tap water in their bottling process.  Two of the companies that do this that were mentioned in the video were Coke's Dasani and Pepsi's Aquafina.  Annie Leonard is doing the narration for this video. The video points out landfills get about 80 percent of the used plastic bottles or they get burned up.  Of course the "International Bottled Water Association" states that things are different that 30.9 percent of the water bottles are actually recycled. Tom Lauria, the VP of communications for the association, states "Consumers are ...

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Smart Ways to Reduce Your Home Food Waste

Sometimes it seems like we throw out more food than we eat.  While that probably isn't true, the average household does waste a lot of food.  Here are some ideas for cutting down your home food waste. Compost While you are still discarding the leftover food when you compost, you are recycling it into a useful substance that can be used to grow more food (or anything else you like) in the garden.  Only compost food that has no other use and can't be recycled in the kitchen anymore. Smaller Portions It's interesting to note that studies have shown that the size of the plate makes a difference in how much we eat.  Smaller plates mean smaller portions, and while going back for seconds is not taboo, it still holds true that smaller plates result in less food being consumed at a meal.  So break out the "salad plates" and other smaller dishes, and cook and serve up smaller portions. Larger Portions Yes, this is the opposite of smaller portions, but increasing the amount of food you cook in one session in the kitchen can actually help reduce waste.  If you double a recipe, for example, you spend the same amount of time and energy in ...

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