The Environmental
Working Group (EWG) has once again published a report on pesticides
that misuses the facts to mislead the public.
EWG’s lack of scientific integrity would be of little concern
except that their tactics have the potential to scare people away
from eating healthy fresh fruits and vegetables. Few consumers will
read beyond the headlines to find that EWG is really doing public
relations for an organic food company. This is a really a food press
release promoting organic foods, and that’s fine. But to call
it a scientific report and raise fears about conventional foods is
simply irresponsible.
The fundamental flaw in EWG’s so-called science is their total
disregard for the fact the government agencies around the world, including
our own Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration,
have found the use and potential residues of pesticides that EWG finds
so alarming to be completely safe. EPA sets tremendously stringent
scientific standards for approval of pesticides, and FDA ensures that
maximum levels that might be found on foods must be far below any
level that might be injurious to health. Yet, EWG ignores the assurance
of safety of these food products granted by the EPA and FDA.
The fruit and vegetable industry is proud to grow both conventional
and organic produce to give consumers a choice of products. We are
happy to see growth in consumption of both conventional and organic
fresh fruits and vegetables as our products are critically important
to good health. But responsible supporters of organic produce will
promote the environmental aspects of growing these products, not make
unsubstantiated food safety claims. The U.S. Department of Agriculture,
which implements the National Organic Standards program, has clearly
stated that organic produce is no safer than non-organic.
EWG calls this new publication a Shoppers' Guide. The only real guide
consumers need is to follow the unbiased public health advice of the
National Cancer Institute – Eat 5 to 9 servings of day of fruits
and vegetables for better health. That’s the real health message
shoppers need to learn.
