Despite the report released today (Thursday, Feb. 18) by Consumers' Union on pesticide residues on produce, UC Davis food toxicologist Carl Winter advises consumers not to let worries about pesticide residues on food stop them from eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. "We have reams and reams of scientific data that prove fruits and vegetables are essential to good health, while our research on the effects of pesticide residues on lab animals shows no adverse effects at typical exposure levels," Winter said. Studies have found that rats are not harmed when subjected to 10,000 times the typical human exposure to pesticide residue everyday. "Does that prove pesticides are safe?" Winter asks. "No. People can and have gotten sick from pesticide exposure in rare instances of blatant pesticide mismanagement." However, asserting the first principle of toxicology, "The dose makes the poison," he said people should determine for themselves what is an acceptable level of risk using factual scientific information. For more information contact Carl Winter at (530) 752-5448, ckwinter@ucdavis.edu.
Jeannette Warnert
Public Information Representative
Ag and Natural Resources
UC Center
550 E. Shaw Avenue
Fresno, CA 93710
(209) 225-5611
FAX (209) 225-8624
eml: jwarnert@uckac.edu
Web: www.uckac.edu/press
