Doctor Tests Strawberries To See If Spending More on Organics Is Worth the Price

With the rising cost of groceries, Americans are looking for ways to save money. Sometimes, this can mean giving up organic produce for more affordable options. It’s a tough choice for those who want to feed their family healthy foods, and you may be wondering if it’s worth the expense.

While buying generics and day-old bread might be an excellent way to save some cash, is skipping organic produce another way? Take a look at what he uncovered in this July 14 video.

Although there may be ways to save money, conventionally grown strawberries don’t appear to be one of them. Dr. Saladino (@ paulsaladinomd2 ) used the pesticide testing kit to see what the berries contained. In one bowl, he tested the juice of the organic berries; in another, he tested the conventionally grown; and in a third bowl, he had water as a control.

Related: Nearly 900,000 Tea Bags Recalled for Excessive Levels of Pestiscide Residue

What Strawberry Testing Revealed

Dr. Saladino points out that strawberries are at the top of the EWG’s Dirty Dozen list of contaminated fruits and vegetables. Not surprisingly, the control sample of water and organic strawberries did not test positive for pesticides, while the conventionally grown did. Sadly, they weren’t the only berries on the Environmental Working Group’s list. The conventionally grown cherries came in at number 10, and blueberries made the list at number 11. Greens like spinach were number two, and kale, collard, and mustard greens were number three.

Grapes, followed by peaches, pears, nectarines, apples, and bell peppers, rounded out the top 12. In total, the Environmental Working Group found that 209 pesticides were used. Two or more pesticide residues were found in 90% of the samples of strawberries, cherries, spinach, apples, nectarines, and grapes. Over 100 pesticides were detected on the kale, mustard, collard greens, and peppers. It should be noted that these fruits and vegetables were tested for these residues after washing them with water.

America’s Test Kitchen reports that soaking in a solution of baking soda and water for 15 minutes is the most effective way to remove common pesticides. They reveal, “Because most pesticides aren’t stable at an alkaline pH, soaking them in a baking soda solution can break down their compounds, and together with a rinse under tap water, can help to wash them away.” While this method can effectively remove common pesticides, they caution that it does not remove all of them.

Another way to save money on organic produce is to buy these fruits frozen when possible. While they may not be fresh, they can be easier on your budget and healthier for your family. Because they are frozen after picking, they are often flavorful and terrific for baking and smoothies.

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