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The claim that strawberries are the dirtiest fruit is not scientific.
Pesticide residues in strawberries are generally nothing to worry about.
Strawberries are low in calories, have little effect on blood sugar, and can improve blood lipids.
Be sure to “don’t” tack when washing strawberries.
Recently, strawberries are cheaper than before, so I buy strawberries more often.
Family will come to remind: “Strawberries are the dirtiest fruit!”
1
The ‘dirtiest fruit’ is still safe to eat
The so-called “strawberry is the dirtiest fruit” is the first time I wrote about popular science, about 10 years ago, when I was still writing columns for some media. When the list came out in 2011, I wrote an article, and when the list came out in 2012, I wrote another article, which directly saved me 2 topics.
A U.S. agency called EWG (Environmental Working Group) selects the previous year based on pesticide residue testing data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. Among the fruits and vegetables with the most serious pesticide residues, strawberries have ranked first for many years…[1]
Image from reference [1]
It sounds like a serious selection, but in fact EWG is just a civil environmental protection organization, not an official organization, it only ranks based on data.
The key problem is that the ranking of this data is based on the type. As long as there are many types of pesticides detected, even if they do not exceed the safety standards, they will be ranked at first.
Many types of pesticide residues ≠ excessive pesticide residues
Let’s hear what the USDA and FDA, the official agencies that publish the data, have to say about the data:
Whether fresh, frozen or processed food, the vast majority of pesticide residues are below the safe limit, so don’t worry about safety. [2]
Image from reference [2]
Therefore, although there are more types of pesticide residues detected in strawberries than other fruits and vegetables, they do not exceed the safety limit, and they are still cute strawberries that are safe and edible~
2
What about strawberries in China?
There must be some readers and friends who say that it is useless to refute the rumors about foreign strawberries. I eat Chinese strawberries.
Indeed, in the largest country in strawberry production and consumption, all we eat are domestic strawberries.
Strawberries are plagued by many pests and diseases and need pesticide “protection”
The strawberries we eat in winter and spring are all grown in greenhouses. The high temperature and high humidity environment is very suitable for the occurrence of pests and diseases, and it needs to be used many times during the production process. A variety of pesticides are used for control. [3]
Taking Hangzhou’s strawberries as an example, there are as many as 15 common pests and diseases, such as gray mold, powdery mildew, anthracnose, red spider, aphids, thripsWait, which one can’t be cured, we all have to say goodbye to delicious strawberries~[3,4]
Pesticide residues are mostly below the safe limit standards
In the past, there was indeed the problem of indiscriminate use of pesticides in strawberry planting and production, and quality and safety issues also occurred from time to time. However, countries and regions actively updated and issued corresponding national standards and industry guidelines to guide strawberry production. The supervision has become more and more strict, effectively preventing and controlling the main diseases and insect pests of strawberries and improving the safety and quality of strawberries.
In recent years, according to the sampling data, pesticide residues in strawberries have basically been controlled below the safety standards.
In the 2018 National Food Safety Supervision Sampling Results of Fruits, a total of 30 batches of strawberries were sampled and all qualified. [5]
Image from reference [5]
In 2020, Xi’an Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Inspection and Monitoring Center tested the main pesticide residues in local strawberries, and pesticide residues were detected in 130 batches of 168 batches, accounting for 77.38% , but the risk of dietary intake of pesticide residues is within the acceptable range. [6]
Image from reference [6]
A study published in 2020 tested 120 samples from five main producing areas of facility-cultivated strawberries in Beijing, Hebei, Shandong, Anhui and Liaoning, although the pesticide detection rate was 100%. %, that is, all pesticide residues were detected, but the chronic and acute dietary intake risks of all detected pesticides were relatively small, which was within the acceptable range, which is stipulated by the Chinese or International Codex Alimentarius Commission The 23 pesticides with the MRLs in strawberries not exceeding the limit. [7]
Standards could be a little stricter
At present, strawberries in my country are generally safe and can be eaten with confidence. However, in terms of standards and implementation, there are still some problems that need to be improved.
For some pesticides, the lack of limit standards and testing method standards may easily lead to misunderstanding and excessive use by producers, thereby increasing the risk of pesticide residue contamination in strawberries. On the other hand, it will also lead to the inability to evaluate the quality and safety of strawberries. [3]
Strawberry pesticide residue limits are still insufficient
The latest national standard GB 2763-2019 “National Food Safety Standard for Maximum Residue Limits of Pesticides in Foods” has increased the number of maximum residue limits of pesticides applicable to strawberries to 125 items, but among them, the maximum residue limits of pesticides for strawberries have been increased to 125. There are only 69 pesticide MRL standards for products (and another 56 are for berries and other small fruits and fruits (except those listed separately)), which is lower than the EU’s 490, Japan’s 308, The US has 115, slightly higher than the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) with 62.
Missing drug limits for production and registration
Some commonly used pesticides produced by strawberries are not registered for use on strawberries in China, and there is no limit standard for these pesticides in the standard. However, some pesticides registered on strawberries in my country do not have a maximum residual dose.
Limited standard supporting technology needs to be supplemented
The new standard GB 2763-2019 specifies the MRLs for 17 pesticides such as paraquat, fenfenone, penthiopyrad, and dinatop, but no corresponding tests are given. Method…
3
Are strawberries worth it?
Solved the problem of strawberry safety, let’s talk about its nutritional cost performance.
As mentioned earlier, the strawberries eaten in winter and spring are all grown in greenhouses, and the cost is relatively high. In addition, the texture of strawberries is delicate and fragile, and additional costs will be added in the process of picking, transportation, and packaging, so the strawberries we buy are very expensive.
Nevertheless, I recommend that you eat strawberries as often as you can (and other berries that have raspberries in their names).
First of all, strawberries are low in calories, only 32kcal/100g, much lower than bananas, apples, even kiwi and oranges,[8] are weight-friendly fruits . (But it can’t stand you eating one pot at a time)
Then, although strawberry tastes sweet, its taste is mainly due to its strong aroma, and the total sugar content is not too high, which may also be related to its high fructose ratio and high sweetness.
Strawberry itself has a glycemic index of only 40[9], very little effect on blood sugar, and eating strawberries before meals can also delay the blood sugar response after meals, Improve blood lipids. Studies have shown that people who eat a lot of strawberries are cardiovascular healthier than people who eat less strawberries. [12]
Click on the larger image to see the clinical trial results. Image from: Afrin, Sadia, et al. “Promising health benefits of the strawberry: a focus on clinical studies.” Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 64.22 (2016): 4435-4449.
In addition to high vitamin C content (58.8mg/100g) comparable to citrus fruits, strawberries are also rich in calcium, potassium, magnesium and other minerals.
Among them, antioxidants such as anthocyanins, anthocyanins, and catechins, long-term intake can reduce chronic inflammation, and are attractive as potential neuroprotective agents. researcher’s attention. Long-term consumption of berries may also have potential benefits in slowing cognitive decline. [10,11]
4
How to wash strawberries to be assured?
Strawberries are delicious and worth eating, but readers and friends who are worried about pesticide residues are still very anxious: although the overall situation is indeed safe, the current standard is not so perfect, and strawberries are not inedible. Is there any way to make me eat with peace of mind?
It’s not terrible to have pesticide residues, just “wash”.
Researchers have long helped us find a way to efficiently clean strawberries, which can greatly reduce the pesticide residues on strawberries. [12,13]
The most critical operation: Don’t pick strawberry stems!
Whether you are doing the whole set step by step or just the first step, the most critical operation is:
Don’t pick strawberry stems!
Don’t pick strawberry stems!
Don’t pick strawberry stems!
The test results have confirmed that no matter what cleaning method is used, the pesticide residues of not removing the strawberry stalk are lower than that of removing the strawberry stalk. Because, if the strawberry stems are removed, the residual pesticides will enter the fruit with water, causing more serious pollution.
Image from reference [12]
Step 1: Rinse with running water
Running water can wash away dust, insect eggs, and some pesticides attached to the surface of the fruit.
Going to the strawberry garden to pick strawberries and eating them right away is not acceptable. Even if the problem of pesticide residues is not considered, the hygiene of strawberries should also be taken seriously.
Step 2: Soak for 5-10 minutes
Soak in light salt water, rice water, baking soda or water for 5-10 minutes.
For the best soaking solution, the conclusions of different experiments are not consistent, but in general, soaking is better than no soaking, light salt water, rice washing water , Baking soda solution is better than water.
Reminder that strawberries are delicate, so it’s best to don’t soak for too long, 5 minutes is almost the same. In addition, the baking soda solution may have an impact on the water-soluble vitamins of strawberries, and the more concentrated the solution is, the better.
Light salt water (2.5 grams of salt and water to 500 ml) can kill harmful microorganisms remaining on the surface of strawberries, and make the insects and eggs attached to the surface of strawberries float, which is easy to be washed away by water , and has a certain disinfection effect.
2% baking soda solution (2 grams of baking soda and water to 100 ml) and rice washing water are weakly alkaline, which can neutralize some acidic pesticides and achieve the effect of decomposing pesticides.
Step 3: Rush again
After soaking, rinse with running water, then you can eat it with confidence~
The strawberry season is coming to an end, hurry up and eat more to give this strawberry season a satisfying ending~
References
[1] The Dirty Dozen list- EWG’s 2021 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce. Retrieved March 27, 2022, from https:https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty- dozen.php
[2] USDA Office of Pest Management Policy Factsheet Pesticide Residues on Fruits and Vegetables. Retrieved March 27, 2022, https:https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files /documents/OPMP-Pesticide-Tolerances-Factsheet.pdf#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20Food%20and%20Drug%20Administration%20%28FDA%29%20also,tolerances%2C%20and%2047%25 %20had%20no%20detectable%20Both%20residues.
[3] Wu Shenggan, Wang Jingwen, Liu Xinju, An Xuehua, Jiang Jinhua, Lv Lu, Li Gang, Wang Feidi, Zhao Xueping. The new progress of the maximum residue limits of pesticides in strawberries in my country[J] .Quality and Safety of Agricultural Products, 2020(02):70-76.
[4] Wu Shenggan, Zhao Xueping, Yang Guiling, Yu Yijun, Lu Jianfei, Tong Yingfu, Cang Tao, Zhang Zhiheng, Wang Qiang. Interpretation of “Guidelines for Safe Use of Strawberries in Greenhouses”, an agricultural group standard in Zhejiang Province[J] ]. Zhejiang Agricultural Science, 2015, 56(11): 1718-1720+1723. DOI: 10.16178/j.issn.0528-9017.20151106.
[5] Lv Bingfeng, Liu Min, Pei Xinrong. Analysis of 2018 Fruit National Food Safety Supervision Sampling Results [J]. Journal of Food Safety and Quality Inspection, 2019,10(17):5687- 5692.DOI:10.19812/j.cnki.jfsq11-5956/ts.2019.17.022.
[6] Yan Ni, Wang Wensi, Shi Shi, Cai Xin, Ren Xiaojiao. Risk assessment of pesticide residues in strawberries [J]. Anhui Agricultural Sciences, 2020, 48(15): 200-204.
[7] Ban Sifan, Li Chunmei, He Qinghua, Zhou Jie, Su Hang, Deng Chao, Wang Qi, Hu Xuejun, Liu Guiqiao, Jin Fen. Dietary Risk Assessment of Pesticide Residues in Facility Cultivation Strawberries[7] J]. Food Industry Technology, 2020, 41(03): 212-220. DOI: 10.13386/j.issn1002-0306.2020.03.036.
[8] USDA, FoodData Central, Strawberries, raw. Available at: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/ 167762/nutrients
[9] The University of Sydney, Glycemic Index, Strawberries, fresh, raw. Available at: https:https://glycemicindex.com/foodSearch.php?num=384&ak=detail
[10] Forbes-Hernandez, Tamara Y., et al. “The healthy effects of strawberry polyphenols: which strategy behind antioxidant capacity?.” Critical reviews in food science and nutrition 56.sup1 (2016): S46-S59.
[11] Subash, Selvaraju, et al. “Neuroprotective effects of berry fruits on neurodegenerative diseases.” Neural regeneration research 9.16 (2014): 1557.
[12] Shen Qinglong, Zhang Lengsi, Hou Lili, Qi Yu. Effects of different cleaning methods on the removal of pesticide residues from strawberries [J]. Agricultural Development and Equipment, 2018(12):120 +123.
[13] Jin Shaoming, Ning Xiao, Gao Wenchao, He Huan, Cao Jin, Ding Hong. Study on the cleaning effect of different cleaning methods on pesticide residues in strawberries [J]. Journal of Food Safety and Quality Inspection ,2017,8(07):2549-2554.