Do pesticides seep into the flesh inside fruits and vegetables?

According to the New York Times , pesticides sprayed on fruits and vegetables accumulate on the outer skin, but this skin does not form an impermeable barrier. Additionally, some pesticides can be absorbed into the tissue of the fruit or vegetable to protect it from pests that enter through the skin.

Dr. Lili He, a food science major at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (USA), said that thicker skins can be more effective in removing pesticides from the flesh of some fruits such as cantaloupes. Cantaloupes are one of the fruits with relatively low pesticide residues.

Long rinsing under running water can also help remove pesticide residue from fruits and vegetables, if present (Photo illustration: Shutterstock).

A study by Dr. He, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (USA), showed that baking soda solution is more effective than plain water in removing pesticide residues from the surface of the peel, but the fruit must be soaked for up to 15 minutes before rinsing.

Sometimes, however, washing doesn’t remove pesticide residue that has penetrated deep into the skin or through the skin to the flesh. Peeling can be effective, but it also removes nutrients from the skin, the researchers say.

Cucumbers and apples are both covered with a natural protective wax layer, but once pesticides diffuse through that layer, they become more difficult to wash off.

According to experts, long washing under running water can also help a lot in washing off pesticide residues from fruits and vegetables but reducing it to zero is never possible. Washing can reduce pesticide residues on the surface but cannot remove pesticides absorbed by the roots into the very tissue of the fruit or vegetable.

Research shows that washing lettuce, strawberries, and tomatoes under running water for 60 seconds is as effective as using commercial vegetable washes at significantly reducing pesticide residues. The best way to do this is to rinse under running water, the force of the running water will wash away the residue. Peeling also helps remove pesticide residues.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Duy Thinh, former Lecturer at the Institute of Biotechnology and Food, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, also advised that the only way to clean vegetables and fruits is to wash them. First, remove any crushed vegetables. If there are still pesticides in crushed vegetables, they will penetrate the crushed cells much faster than intact cells.

Specifically, you need to cut off the crushed parts, cut the base, cut the roots and then soak them in cold water for a certain period of time (about 5-10 minutes). If there are any pesticides left, they will gradually dissolve.

Then, change the water many times, the principle is to wash with a lot of water, wash for a long time, wash by hand, pay attention to the gaps between the leaf stalks... to separate dirt (not only sand but also pesticides if any). Finally, we should wash under running water. During the washing process, try to avoid crushing the vegetables further.

"This is very effective in minimizing the amount of pesticides in vegetables. It also reduces other contaminants brought back from the fields," Associate Professor Thinh said.

Experts also note that root vegetables (radish, kohlrabi, carrots, potatoes) are always cleaner than leafy vegetables. Among leafy vegetables, vegetables grown on land are often cleaner than vegetables grown in water (celery, watercress, etc.).

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/thuoc-tru-sau-co-ngam-vao-phan-thit-ben-trong-trai-cay-va-rau-khong-20231101202319478.htm