Print article I’ve updated this article to include new data and studies on the efficacy of the baking soda solution to remove pesticides on fresh produce.
Pesticides have been associated with short-and long-term effects on human health, including elevated cancer risks, and potential disruption of the body’s metabolic functioning, as well as the reproductive, immune, hormone and nervous systems.
The US Food & Drug Administration, the US Department of Agriculture and other scientists agree that a cold water soak with baking soda will effectively help remove dirt, chemical residue, & other unwanted materials from your fresh vegetables and fruits. This comes at a good time as organic fruits and vegetables cost an average of 52.6% more than their conventional produce counterparts, according to analysis from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data. Such spikes could force many consumers to opt for nonorganic options instead.
A study conducted by the University of Massachusetts, found that a 15 minute soak in water and baking soda is the most effective way to remove pesticide residue on produce. The scientists compared the efficacy of germicidal bleach to rinsing with tap water or a sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) solution, which is alkaline. Immersing the apples in a sodium bicarbonate solution for 15 minutes followed by a freshwater rinse removed all pesticide residues from the surface of the apples, whereas the tap water and bleach treatments removed some, but not all. The sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) solution caused a pesticides reduction of 66.7–98.9%. Sodium bicarbonate degrades the pesticides, boosting the physical removal force of washing, says Lili He, an analytical chemist at the University of Massachusetts.
Another test I came across, was conducted by Americas Test Kitchen. They performed a 30-second soak method on grapes. They purchased pesticide detection cards to ascertain the presence of two types of commonly used pesticides—carbamates and organophosphates. A detection card is dipped into a solution in which the fruit has been soaked, and then pressed against a second card. If that second card stays white, it indicates a high concentration of pesticide residue. But if the disk turns blue, this indicates very little to no residue. They found that the test cards applied to grapes treated with baking soda solution turned blue, indicating that it was effective at removing pesticides. Test did not include a pesticide reduction rate, however.
Finally, a study from The Department of Analytical Chemistry at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station found that at least 30 seconds of rinsing with plain water is best to “significantly reduce” the presence of pesticides and fungicides from the surface of your produce, and that friction is important to ensure you’re actually getting all traces off. Investing in a scrub brush that you use specifically for your fruits and veggies, might be a good idea. However they did include, “while studies show baking soda can remove more pesticide residue compared to water alone, the difference in practical terms is minimal, washing in tap water alone can reduce by 26.7–62.9%.”
Baking Soda Solution Recipe. Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda per 2 cups of cold water and let the produce soak for 12-15 minutes or at least 30-seconds and a scrub if applicable, then rinse thoroughly. I also let my fruit and veggies dry completely, before storing, eating, or using in a recipe.
The baking soda solution may not be a silver bullet for removing all pesticides, but it still removes common types of pesticides. Everyone should eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, whether organic or conventionally grown. The health benefits of such a diet outweigh the risks of pesticide exposure. The bottom line is you want to wash any fruit or vegetable before consuming!
Americas Test Kitchen
Were you able to qualify or quantify a difference in pesticide removal between the two soak times in your experiment?
I appreciate your comment.To answer your question I was not able to quantify a difference in pesticide removal between the two soak times-I trusted the research. With that being said, I and have updated, rewrote the article to include new data on pesticides on human health, increased cost on organic fruit and veggies, pesticide reduction rates, and the actual studies of the efficacy of baking soda solution. It’s a much better article. Thank you!