Handle Vegetables and Fruits Well Before Eating to Decrease Pesticide Residue

The improvement of the precision of analytical instruments and the advancement of inspection technology allow people to detect pesticide residues on crops. According to the pesticide residue inspection methods announced by Ministry of Health and Welfare, all inspections in fruits and vegetables shall be carried out with unwashed, unpeeled materials. In order to understand the effect of simple handling process such as cleaning, pedicle removal, peeling and shelling used by general public, TACTRI implemented tests regarding the effects of simple handling process on pesticide residues three years ago. The results showed that pesticide residue decreased 40-100% after peeling pineapple, citrus, and lychee; while decreased 47-92% after washing and removing the stalks of strawberries; decreased over 90% after remove 2 to 3 outer leaves of cabbage; decreased 43-70%, 28-93%, 75-85% and more than 80% after rinse wash cowpea, cucumber, bok choy, and sweet pepper for one minute respectively.

In terms of cleaning, TACTRI recommends immersing or rinsing fruits and vegetables with running water. There is no need to soak them in salt water, baking soda, or use vegetable and fruit cleaners. The principle order of handling is to wash, peel, remove the pedicles and finally cut into pieces to avoid the pesticides residue from infiltrating the tissues along the incision. To handle small leafy vegetables such as Chinese cabbage, spread the leaves in running water, soak wash then cut them. To handle leafy vegetables such as cabbage (caulis), first remove 2 to 3 outer leaves, needed amount then rinse with running water. As for fruit vegetables such as tomatoes and sweet peppers, rinse with a soft brush at the uneven surface, then remove the stalks and cut into pieces. Regarding beans as peas, sink in running water before peel off both ends. Small berries such as grapes, cut off from stem with stalks before washing in running water. When handling pears and similar fruit, rinse before peel and consumption.

Legal and reasonable use of pesticides can help crops resist pests and diseases, therefore to provide consumers with diverse and abundant agricultural products. According to TACTRI, people can make the whole family enjoy safe and healthy vegetables as long as they buy in season, certificated or with traceable sources fruits and vegetables, and clean them correctly.

The pesticide residue decreased rate of simple handling process on vegetable and fruits.

Small leafy vegetables wash principle, spread the leaves in running water, soak wash then cut them

When wash grapes, cut off from stem with stalks before washing in running water.

Before peeling and eating pears, also rinse with running water.