Do you like 67 pesticides with your celery?

[Descartes]

Just saw this on CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/06/01/dirty.dozen.produce.pesticide/index.html?hpt=C2

I know this is all hippy fear-mongering and all, but how have we allowed this to be an acceptable practice? The fact that people would actually in *favor* of this (and many do) is astounding to me.

I don't need a collection of studies linking pesticides to cancer or anything else to know I don't want it on/in my food even in the tiniest amounts. Why has our perspective on our food supply become so acquiescent that we'd expose our families to even the minute potential?

 

[irishScott]

yes.

 

[Schadenfroh]

1. Wash your veggies before eating them (although this certainly will not remove everything)
2. Trace amounts are harmless (per FDA regulations)
3. Raw "organic" veggies can be more dangerous than standard veggies
http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4019

According to the Center for Global Food Issues, organic foods make up about 1% of all the food sold in the United States, but it accounts for 8% of E. coli cases.

4. Organic veggies still have "additives"

Some supporters of organic growing claim that the danger of non-organic food lies in the residues of chemical pesticides. This claim is even more ridiculous: Since the organic pesticides and fungicides are less efficient than their modern synthetic counterparts, up to seven times as much of it must be used. Organic pesticides include rotenone, which has been shown to cause the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease and is a natural poison used in hunting by some native tribes; pyrethrum, which is carcinogenic; sabadilla, which is highly toxic to honeybees; and fermented urine, which I don't want on my food whether it causes any diseases or not.

 

[zsdersw]

Grow produce for yourself. It's the only way to know exactly what's on it.

 

[Patranus]

Would I rather have 67 pesticides with my celery or be a shit hole country in Africa that can't feed its population?

Hmmm.

 

[Turin39789]

Would I rather have 67 pesticides with my celery or be a shit hole country in Africa that can't feed its population?

Hmmm.

false dichotomy?

 

[Descartes]

1. Wash your veggies before eating them (although this certainly will not remove everything)
2. Trace amounts are harmless (per FDA regulations)
3. Raw "organic" veggies can be more dangerous than standard veggies
http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4019

4. Organic veggies still have "additives"

1) This was done *after* washing the veggies and still had the residue
2) I've heard that, but I find this a bit interesting. I'm not making this a political issue, but it seems that conservatives are primarily opposed to reform of our agricultural methods. Yet, when it comes to the argument, they will leverage claims by the FDA to support their argument. I'm not a tin-foil hat conspiratorial nut, but every catastrophic issue in our food/drug supply was after the FDA previously said it was ok.
3) I'll read more into that.

To me this is less of an issue of organics as it is our food supply in general. Organics are not the only solution. There are plenty of non-organic ways to achieve mostly the same goal, including trusted farmer's markets and growing your own if you can.

 

[highland145]

Family member is into organic farming, grass fed cows etc. She went to a meeting with a herbicide company spokesman. He told a story about someone that grew beautiful tomato plants but no fruit. He used manure from horses/cows(?) to fertilize. They had been fed from hay/grain(?) that had been sprayed with this particular herbicide, which was clearly labeled, to not be used where it had but the hay/grain farmers didn't read the label. And the herbicide passed all the way through to the plants.:\

Sorry, don't remember hay/grain or cows/horses.

 

[Saga]

The real question is who the hell actually eats celery? It's a disgusting fucking weed of a vegetable.

 

[Descartes]

The real question is who the hell actually eats celery? It's a disgusting fucking weed of a vegetable.

Delicious with wings and some blue cheese, but for me that's about it

 

[Atheus]

The correct question is - would you rather have 67 pesticides, or one serious intestinal disease?

 

[Atheus]

The real question is who the hell actually eats celery? It's a disgusting fucking weed of a vegetable.

You put it in stock. If you don't your stock is lame.

 

[zsdersw]

The real question is who the hell actually eats celery? It's a disgusting fucking weed of a vegetable.

Celery is wonderful. I can't imagine a chicken soup, mirepoix, or elbow macaroni salad without it.

For those of you watching your waistline, celery (by itself, of course) is a "negative calorie" food; your body burns more calories digesting it than it provides.

 

[LTC8K6]

Yeah! I only want the natural toxic chemicals in my diet...

 

[Schadenfroh]

2) I've heard that, but I find this a bit interesting. I'm not making this a political issue, but it seems that conservatives are primarily opposed to reform of our agricultural methods. Yet, when it comes to the argument, they will leverage claims by the FDA to support their argument. I'm not a tin-foil hat conspiratorial nut, but every catastrophic issue in our food/drug supply was after the FDA previously said it was ok.

The food supply is highly regulated by the government through the FDA. Even with heavy government regulation, mistakes can happen as both government and private enterprises make mistakes. Offshore drilling is also highly regulated by the government and BP has a substantial financial interest in extracting oil instead of it just pouring into the ocean, yet the Deep Horizon incident occurred.

It never ceases to amaze me that some of those that claim they wish to feed the poor and starving in the US and abroad are against genetically modified organisms and other modern agricultural techniques including, but not limited to, synthetic herbicides / pesticides. Organic and/or traditional farming is highly inefficient and more expensive compared to modern farming techniques that utilize innovations science has provided us. I really doubt that the majority of the poor could afford "organic" foods on a regular basis. Maybe those against applying scientific innovations and reason to agriculture are "closet conservatives" that want the poor to die off? Likely not, I am sure they have the best intentions, but they are misguided.

http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4166

Science has brought us crop strains that increase output by factors of 10 and even 20 times even in poor soil, and given us a plethora of tools to combat losses to pests and disease. Generally, science (and the hungry people who benefit) applaud these improvements. Organic proponents (mainly well-fed people) have opposed them, saying they're bad for the environment.

 

[piasabird]

So how do you know what is in your food anyway?

Unless you grow it yourself who knows what you got?

With a little truck spraying for misquitos all the time, who knows if even the food you are growing is safe?

Celery is yucky anyway.

 

[spidey07]

Sure. As long as it gets rid of the pests, I'm fine with pesticides. I just sprayed my cabbage and broccoli yesterday and will continue every week. Damn cabbage worms will destroy your plants if you don't.

 

[bfdd]

Celery is wonderful. I can't imagine a chicken soup, mirepoix, or elbow macaroni salad without it.

For those of you watching your waistline, celery (by itself, of course) is a "negative calorie" food; your body burns more calories digesting it than it provides.

I'm not a watcher of my weight, but I do love celery. To the people asking if it's necessary to use the things that farmers do, figure out a way to produce the amount of produce they do with the same prices without doing it and you'll be a billionaire. Notice no one has yet?

 

[Patranus]

false dichotomy?

What do you think would happen if agricultural manufacturers stopped using pesticides?

 

[spidey07]

What do you think would happen if agricultural manufacturers stopped using pesticides?

Much lower yields. Entire crops possibly ruined (do you know what a hornworm will do to a tomato plant? All the leaves will be gone in just a few days leaving you nothing but bare stalk and stems).

Much less supply = much higher prices.

 

[Jmman]

I knew there was a reason that I don't eat anything green......

 

[CycloWizard]

I don't need a collection of studies linking pesticides to cancer or anything else to know I don't want it on/in my food even in the tiniest amounts. Why has our perspective on our food supply become so acquiescent that we'd expose our families to even the minute potential?

This is the premise of every conspiracy theory thread or other ignorance-based thought posted in this forum: "I don't need facts to support my position..."

Would you pay ten times the price for the same food simply to avoid the possibility of a problem resulting from the use of pesticides? Pesticides improve crop yields by preventing crop destruction by pests. Lower yields equals lower supply. Lower supply results in higher prices. Everyone knows this.

 

[kage69]

Pretty much why I have my own garden in the warmer months. Neem oil and garlic do a great job of keeping molds and insects off my garden, and both of those are perfectly safe for humans. Pyrethrin (sp?) based bug killers usually degrade into harmless compounds within 24hrs, so you can harvest the day after you apply if you want.

Seriously, the difference between my beefsteak or brandywine tomatoes and the ethylene ripened bullshit you buy at the grocery store is night and day. I haven't compared my celery to store bought in a like fashion, but I'm told my soups and anything involving a mirepoix are the bomb. Fragrant celery is underrated, like shallots.


Just FYI, anyone who hasn't seen Food Inc. should really give a gander. http://www.foodincmovie.com/ Not just about food and quality/safety, it goes into why corporations need to be reigned in over lobbying and the use of illegal workers. Great doc and a real eye opener.

And I'd just like to add, go to hell Monsanto.

 

[LumbergTech]

What do you think would happen if agricultural manufacturers stopped using pesticides?

Completely stopping the usage of them isn't the only option.

 

[BoberFett]

false dichotomy?

No, it's quite true. The two are very related.