Are fruits with high pesticide levels imported? What is the correct way to wash fruits that can be eaten as-is?🌈

Fruits are essential for our health.

Consuming sugar from fruit is considered better for the body than (processed) fructose because it reduces the burden on internal organs.

Japan currently relies on imports for most of its fruit.

There is a pitfall there.

In particular, citrus fruits (fruits with peels like lemons and oranges) and imported grapes are known to be treated with multiple pesticides, such as fungicides.

This is to prevent mold from growing during transport by ship.

Imported fruits that can be eaten with the peel on must be washed thoroughly.

・Citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges
・Some imported fruits such as grapes, bananas, and apples

These are often treated with 'post-harvest pesticides' (fungicides) and are frequently detected during inspections.

However, because the work is done at sea, they are mostly subject to overseas standards rather than Japanese standards. They are allowed to enter the country as they are.

This is because a treaty containing that provision has been signed.

So, what about domestic fruits?

Pesticides are also used on domestic apples, strawberries, grapes, and so on.

However, everything is managed within strict standard values.

The inspection standards are much stricter than those for imports.

This is the same for all food products.

Therefore, domestic vegetables and fruits can be eaten with peace of mind.

However,

'Fruits with zero pesticides almost do not exist'

In Japan,

'The amount that will not affect health even if consumed for a lifetime'

Based on this, 'residual standards' are determined.

Residual standards refer to the amount (numerical value) of pesticide remaining.

Pesticides remaining in food or soil are called 'residual pesticides'.

Residual pesticides refer to a state where pesticides used during the cultivation process of agricultural products, or pesticides contained in the soil where they were grown, remain on the crops after harvest.

Please assume that residual pesticides remain on almost all fruits, whether they are imported or domestic.

Therefore, we recommend washing them thoroughly before eating.

・Wash well
→ Scrub under running water, and carefully wash the stems and indentations.
・Peel (remove the outer layer)
→ Peel imported citrus fruits like lemons and oranges thickly.
・Choose the production area and cultivation method
→ Refer to labels such as domestic origin, reduced pesticide use, or specially cultivated.

Fruit farmers also disinfect by soaking them in running water or adding 'baking soda' or 'vinegar'.

Residual pesticides are considered to pose almost no health risk if they are within Japanese standards, but at home, you can reliably remove surface pesticides and dirt by washing them well under running water, and if necessary, soaking them for 5 to 10 minutes in water with 0.1–0.5% baking soda or vinegar added, then rinsing them well under running water again.

・Scrubbing under running water
・Soaking in baking soda water or vinegar water for 5–10 minutes
・Final rinse under running water

Making these 3 steps a habit will allow you to effectively remove residual pesticides, dirt, and bacteria.

It would be counterproductive to reduce your fruit intake out of fear of pesticides.

Since the risk of vitamin and dietary fiber deficiency also increases, please try to eat a balanced diet while lowering risks through washing, peeling, and choosing the production area.

Let's make sure to consume plenty of fruit to get through this hot season😌

Thank you for reading until the end🌈