Does washing vegetables and fruits remove pesticides?

I am concerned that the fruits and vegetables I bought still have pesticides, so will washing them help remove all the pesticides and plant protection chemicals? (Hang, 38 years old, Hanoi )

Reply:

Pesticides sprayed on fruits and vegetables accumulate on the outer skin, but they can still penetrate the skin and be absorbed into the inner tissue. Washing sometimes does not completely remove deeply absorbed pesticide residues, but it is the only effective way.

First, you need to remove any crushed vegetables, because pesticides often penetrate crushed cells faster than intact cells. After cutting off the roots, soak the vegetables and fruits in cold water for about 5-10 minutes. At this time, the pesticides will gradually separate.

With raw vegetables, do not soak for too long (over 10 minutes), which will make the vegetables soft and reduce nutrients. You can 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, wash under running water, trying not to crush the vegetables further. If the vegetables are large leaves, break them into branches and leaves to wash. This will greatly reduce the risk of contamination with pesticides and other contaminants.

In fact, root vegetables such as radishes, kohlrabi, carrots, and potatoes are cleaner than leafy vegetables. Among leafy vegetables, those grown on land are generally cleaner than those grown in water.

Most vegetables after being harvested and sold in supermarkets must go through a preliminary processing stage. However, you need to reprocess them to ensure safety. You should choose to buy vegetables in a safe place, where you can test and trace the origin of the product.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Duy Thinh
Institute of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Hanoi University of Science and Technology

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