Less is better

Vegetarian Times, August, 2002

It's true. Organic produce--fruits, vegetables and grains grown without chemicals--contains dramatically fewer pesticide residues than conventionally grown foods. In the first detailed scientific analysis of their relative levels of contamination, published in the May 8, 2002 issue of Food Additives and Contaminants, a Consumers Union-led team found pesticide residue on only 23 percent of organic fruits and vegetables yet on almost 75 percent of conventionally grown foods.

The bottom line? "Consumers who want to reduce their exposure to pesticide residues can do so reliably by choosing organic produce," the scientists wrote. "Less is better," says Edward Groth, one of the researchers.