What is the safest produce?
According to the latest report from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (a comprehensive report that offers reassuring news) California-grown produce is among the safest anywhere.
Reportedly the DPR tested more than 3,500 unwashed samples of fruits and vegetables sold in California and found 97% of produce either had no detectable pesticide residues or had residues well below strict federal safety limits a low 3% had illegal residues, but of those, most were imported.
And according to the report, the label “Grown in California” results stood out even more. From more than 1,050 California-grown samples, over 99% had either no pesticide residues or only legal, safe levels.
California can rightfully boast on this accomplishment especially as many regulations are being loosened under the current administration and also when one considers California produces more than 400 different crops, many of which end up in grocery carts across the country and around the world.
What does the phrase ‘no detectable really mean?
Current technology can detect pesticide residue at incredibly tiny amounts, down to parts per billion or even parts per trillion. In other words, one part per billion is like a single drop of water in an Olympic sized swimming pool. While one part per trillion is like that same drop in 20 Olympic-sized pools.
When the report says, “no detectable pesticide residue,” it means nothing was found even at these ultra-sensitive levels.
Northeast Valley News asked several Valley shoppers at two local grocery stores (Safeway and Sprouts) about their preferred choice among produce.
“I’m from California so I already knew about the food standards for the state. I will always buy “California Grown” but you have to look closely,” said Roberta Knowles of Carefree.
One shopper who wished to be unidentified said they worry about how much the ICE raids are hurting the “beautiful California” agriculture.
“Some ICE raids have disrupted farmers and this has led to crop losses or unharvested produce and it is affecting even the documented workers who may be afraid of the Trump deportation of even some U.S. citizens.”
Still, according to the report, the California food standards remain high and will continue as the state’s guidelines target and spell out specific goals for produce such as:
- Produce that is frequently eaten by infants and children.
- Produce likely treated with pesticides listed under Proposition 65 as carcinogens or reproductive toxins.
- Produce that reflects consumption patterns across diverse ethnic and socioeconomic groups.
- Produce with a history of illegal residue detections.
- Produce imported from countries with past violations.
Despite deregulation of many industries under the current Trump administration, consumers are choosing quality, health and safety and are beginning to demand the kinds of standards such as California’s targeted approach of looking for problems and correcting them, not avoiding them.
