The Environmental Working Group s (EWG) most recent alarmist Dirty Dozen list is meant to scare folks about the trace levels of pesticides on fruits and vegetables especially apples. Why? See Dr. Joe Schwarcz s smart riposte. In his column for the Montreal Gazette, the radio personality and director of McGill University's Office for Science and Society explains exactly what s so flawed about the EWG s claims. Looking at apples in particular, Dr. Schwarcz writes,
The question that needs to be asked is how many of these tests found a residue in excess of the Environmental Protection Agency s carefully established maximum tolerance level? And the answer is, out of 140,881 tests, ¦.two!The Pesticide Data Program lists the EPA tolerance level for each pesticide and also lists the amount detected. A simple calculation reveals that for apples the average amount of pesticide detected is 2.5% of the EPA tolerance dose. That isn t exactly a blood-curling statistic, is it? So there is absolutely no need to worry about eating apples. An apple a day may not keep the doctor away, but a dose of perspective about pesticide residues will keep the Environmental Working Group s fear-mongering at bay.