Apples are sweet, crunchy, and packed with fibre and vitamins, making them one of the most popular fruits in the world. There are literally hundreds of varieties of edible apples across the world.
However, a new report has discovered that washing fruit before eating doesn’t remove pesticides, and “infiltrates the peel layer” in fruits like apples.
According to a new report from the American Chemical Society (ACS), washing your fruit doesn’t actually remove pesticides. The ACS said the only way to avoid ingesting the chemicals is to peel the fruit.
According to the study, imaging technology was used on apples to find that the pesticides can penetrate the layers.
Another research has shown that the foodborne causing microorganism, Listeria Monocytogenes is most prevalent at the stem and base of the apple. There is also the possibility that bird faeces fell on the fruit, and sometimes it’s not visible to the human eye.
Scientists found a “distribution of pesticides in the apple peel and pulp layers confirming that the pesticides penetrate the peel layer into the pulp layer. Thus, the risk of pesticide ingestion from fruits cannot be avoided by simple washing other than peeling”.
Scientists emphasize that just washing fruits is not sufficient to remove all pesticides.
Researchers used imaging technology to examine apples and found that pesticides can penetrate both the peel and the pulp layers. However, when the peel and top layer of the pulp were removed, pesticides decreased significantly.
“Rather than fostering undue anxiety, the research declares that peeling can eliminate nearly all pesticide residues, contrasted with the frequently recommended practice of washing.”
How To Eat Apple
For those who would still like to eat apples with the skin on, Here is how to be able to eat apples with the skin on but still minimize the risks associated with it.
According to nutritionists, the best way to eat apples with the skin safely is to ensure food hygiene and safety before eating. Each person should learn how to choose fresh apples, then wash them, and soak them in salt water to remove pesticides or disease-causing parasites, making them unable to enter the body and damaging health.
Two-Step Guide On How To Eat Apples With Skin
Mild detergents or fruit and vegetable washes do not enhance the removal of pesticide residues from produce above that of rinsing with tap water alone. The mechanical action of rubbing the produce under tap water is likely responsible for removing pesticide residues.
1. Use baking soda to wash apples:
First, you need to wash the apples briefly with clean water once, this is to eliminate dirt from the cover. Put about 1.5 litres of water in the pot, add 4 tablespoons of baking soda and stir the mixture. After finishing, you can let the apples soak for about 10-15 minutes, then rinse them with clean water, take them out to dry and enjoy.
2. Wash Apples Thoroughly
If you want to eat apples with the skin safely after you wash them, you need to soak them for about 40 minutes with a solution of 1 part water, 2 parts white vinegar and a few drops of grapefruit essential oil.
It is necessary to thoroughly wash the fruit nipple because that is where a lot of bacteria and harmful chemicals are stored, which can affect human health if accidentally devoured.