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Apr 18
Love0

Brown Bag Wants to Know: Wait! Is That Organic?

By BBBlog

We talked a couple of weeks ago about the “Dirty Dozen,” a list of fruits and vegetables that you should only buy organic; and last week, we went over the “Clean Fifteen,” those fruits and veggies that are generally low in pesticides  even if they’re not grown organically.  Unfortunately, those two lists aren’t the end-all-and-be-all of safe/unsafe foods.  We’ve done a little more research for you, and there’s more. So, without further ado, we give you the “Wait! Is That Organic?” list of foods to think about.

Baby Food:  Children are especially vulnerable to pesticides, so think about buying organic baby food whenever possible. Think about the sensitivity of a young child’s stomach, the rate at which their bodies and their brains grow and then decide how much risk you’re willing to take with baby food that is potentially high in pesticides.

Peanut Butter:  Have you given much thought to your peanut butter before, or have you, like most people, just grabbed your old faithful and spent the rest of your shopping time thinking about organic produce?  Well, now it’s time to consider your peanut butter.  Non-organic peanut butters are high in pesticides and fungus, and they also contain aflatoxin, a potential carcinogen.  Peanut butter and jelly are staples of childhood, so go back to the argument for organic baby food and add “peanut butter” to the paragraph.

Milk:  A lot of you are already reaching for the organic moo juice, but if you’re not, give this some thought:  Conventional dairy cows are routinely given hormones, antibiotics and grain that is full of pesticides, and all of those things eventually are poured into your child’s morning sippy cup of milk (and your coffee!).  And if your child is drinking whole milk (which many young children do), know this:  The higher the fat level, the higher the pesticide level.

Meat:  So goes the milk, so goes the meat.  Animal feed, as we said above, often contains pesticides, antibiotics and growth hormones; it’s just common sense that these things can also end up in the meat one eats.  It’s also probable that the use of antibiotics in food production is helping to foster drug-resistant bacteria, and no one wants that. Just say no to meat that is not raised organically.

Eggs:  Pesticide residue, antibiotics and growth hormones are passed from chickens to eggs, so those eggs you’re using to cook, bake and otherwise feed your family, are spreading their negative qualities throughout your diet.  Organic eggs are produced by chickens that are not given antibiotics or growth hormones, and that are fed only organic feed.

Shopping for food these days can be time consuming and confusing.  Is this organic?  What’s the English translation of this 20-letter word in this list of ingredients?  Why did my apples triple in price with the word “organic”?  There are so many things to think about and prices just keep rising in the grocery store.  It’s not always easy to know which foods are safe to eat without the “organic” label, which foods you should always buy only in organic varieties, and/or which foods have a sort of self-protection from harmful chemicals.  We hope these last few blogs have given you a start, a place to jump from when you think about what to put in your cart this week.  Eating organic foods grown locally is important to Brown Bag and we hope you’ll join us in supporting local farmers, especially local organic farmers, by searching them out and bringing the best and cleanest food to your table.

Apr 11
Love0

Mr. Clean: Brown Bag Talks the “Clean Fifteen”

By BBBlog

In our last blog, we finished up the list of “The Dirty Dozen,”  those fruits and veggies that, even after being washed and peeled, retain the highest amounts of pesticide residue.  Now, we want to give you the “Clean Fifteen:” Produce that has the lowest amount of pesticide residue.  If you’re looking to cut your grocery bill safely, the items on the “Clean Fifteen” list might help.  So, here goes!

Onions:  Onions are the squeakiest of all!  Less than 1% of onions tested had any pesticide residue.

Sweet Corn:  98% percent of all frozen and fresh corn samples had no detectable pesticide residues.  If you’re concerned about GMO’s, do your research.  GMO’s are very common in corn and not taken into account when determining the “Clean Fifteen.”

Pineapples:  Only 6 different pesticides were found on pineapples.  Not too shabby.

Avacado:  Avacados have thick skin that protects the fruit from pesticides.

Mango:  Mangoes, like avocados, are protected by their thick skin, but you should still wash them before you dive in with your knife.

Asparagus:  Asparagus isn’t plagued by as many pests as other fruits and veggies, and so, requires little pesticide.  Eat up!

Sweet Peas:  These little gems are the least likely vegetables to contain pesticide residue according to the Environmental Working Group.

Kiwi:  Ever heard the term “saved by the skin of their teeth?”  Kiwi may not have teeth, but their skin saves them (and you) from the effects of pesticides.  Give them a rinse and then enjoy!

Cabbage:  Your cabbage isn’t swimming in pesticides because (luckily!) it doesn’t require a lot of chemicals to grow.  You will find it chock-full of beta-carotene though, so eat up!

Eggplant:  A thick skin does more than protect your feelings—it keeps your eggplant safe from pesticide contamination.  And it’s purple!  How often do you get to squeeze that color into your food rainbow?

Papaya: The pesticides used on papaya stay on the skin, so wash, peel and eat!

Watermelon:  We just have one word for you: rind.  Just try getting through that thing!

Broccoli:  Fewer pest threats mean fewer pesticides.  Apparently, bugs agree with children: Broccoli is not a treat.  Though we happen to disagree.:)

Tomato:  In 2008, tomatoes were on the “Dirt Dozen” list and now they’re hanging out with the “Clean Fifteen.”  What happened?  The Environmental Working Group doesn’t seem to understand either, but lately, tomatoes are coming up clean.

Sweet Potatoes:  This super food comes up super clean! Enjoy your vitamin A and beta carotene.

At the end of the day, the farms that produce these “Clean Fifteen” veggies are more than likely still using pesticides, whether on these items or others that they grow, and pesticides seep into ground water and otherwise damage ecosystems.  So, give a thought to the earth and seek out local, organic produce whenever possible.  At Brown Bag, we look as close to home as possible for the produce that goes into all of our food, and we believe firmly that organic is best.  You’re eating clean at Brown Bag.:)

 

Apr 05
Love0

The Dirty Dozen, Part 2: Grape Expectations

By BBBlog

Last week, we started telling you all about the “Dirty Dozen,” a list of fruits and veggies that you should always eat organic because they’re high in pesticide residue and other chemicals.  This week, we continue!  Onward and upward with the last half of the “Dirty Dozen!”

Grapes:  Grapes are frequent fliers on the “Dirty Dozen” list.  While you’ll find that imported grapes are especially high in pesticide residue, domestic grapes aren’t significantly better.  Where grapes go, raisins are sure to follow.  Consider going organic on your raisin selection as well; raisins have been tested and also have a high amount of pesticide residue stuck to them.  As much as we hate to point this out:  Take a minute or two to ponder your wine selection—but don’t freak out yet!  Organic wines are available.

Sweet Bell Peppers—If you’re looking to add some color to your plate with bell peppers, go organic.  Nearly 50 different chemicals have been identified on sweet bell peppers during testing.  Sadly, it seems that “tasting the rainbow” only makes things worse.  Tests show that colorful bell peppers (orange, yellow and red) are much worse than green.

Potatoes:  Say it ain’t so! (Sorry, it is!)  USDA testing has shown more than 35 pesticides found on potatoes.  So much for that baked potato soup, French fries, and scalloped potatoes?  Not if you buy organic.  Your other alternative?  Try sweet potatoes; they’re much safer than their white brethren.

Blueberries:  It’s the berries, again.  While we all know we need to eat more of them because they’re jam-packed with vitamins and antioxidants, you really need to eat berries grown organically.  More than 50 different pesticide residues have been found on blueberries, and while we’d like to tell you to try cherries or cranberries instead, we can’t safely say it.  These berries may not have made the “Dirty Dozen” list, but they’re generally high in chemical residue and should only be eaten organic.  Still want some fruit on your cereal?  Try bananas!

Lettuce:  Leafy greens can be tricky, and so we add lettuce to the list with spinach.  When tested, more than 50 different chemicals were found on lettuce, making it a surefire member of the “Dirty Dozen.”  Farmers markets are likely places to find your favorite salad staple organically grown, but if you’re really having trouble finding organic lettuce, look for a green alternative like asparagus.

Kale:  Kale is one of our favorite super foods, and generally known as a pretty hardy plant, so we were a little surprised to see it on the “Dirty Dozen” list.  For whatever reason, when tested, it had quite a lot of pesticide residue (which it holds onto firmly) and ended up here.  If you’re looking for a dark green alternative, try broccoli, asparagus or dandelion greens.

So, there you have it!  If you’re like us, you’re probably trying to stick to organic, pesticide-free produce as much as we are, but it’s not always easy.  We hope this list helps you identify those fruits and veggies that you should stay away from and has offered you some alternatives when organic varieties of your favorites aren’t available.  Next time, we’re serving up the “Clean Fifteen;” fifteen of the safest fruits and veggies to eat that are not grown organically.

Mar 28
Love0

The Dirty Dozen—Brown Bag Wants to Know: How Do You Like Them Apples?

By BBBlog

If you’re a fan of Brown Bag, chances are you’re also a proponent of organic food; and if you’re buying organic food on a regular basis, then you know how expensive it can get.  In fact, if you’re feeling the pinch in the checkout line, you might even be wondering if it’s really worth it.   We argue yes–“worth it” extends past a cash register receipt and into the environment and the future, but each person and each family has to make their own decisions.  On the whole, there are 3 main categories of produce whose organic road you should be following: tree fruits, berries and leafy greens, but there are exceptions.  On that note, we give you, “The  Dirty Dozen”:  the twelve most contaminated fruits and veggies.  Ready? Here goes!

Apples:  Fungus and insect threats make apples one of the most pesticide-riddled fruits out there. In fact, more than 40 different kinds of pesticides have been found on apples.  Now, you may be thinking, “I’ll just peel my apples!”  Consider this: When you peel an apple, you peel away many of its most powerful nutrients.  So, we have to ask–what’s the point in eating that apple in the first place?  Then there this:  Apples absorb and contain the pesticides with which they come into contact.  Apples are “bagged” with pesticides, so chemicals really go all the way to the core on these fruits.  A consequence of all this pesticide on apples:  Many apple products, such as apple sauce and apple juice, contain pesticide residue, as well.  The long and short of it—keep apples and apple products on your “Organic Only” list.

Looking for apple alternatives:  watermelons, bananas, and tangerines.

Celery:  This is a tricky one because it doesn’t stick to the 3 main categories; but rules were made to be broken, right?  Celery breaks the pattern in a big way and that’s why it’s on the Dirty Dozen list.  USDA tests have identified more than 60 different kinds of pesticides on celery.

Can’t find organic celery but craving its crunch?  Try broccoli, radishes and onions.

Strawberries:  Seems strawberries are always on the Dirty Dozen list, and that’s a shame because everyone loves strawberries!  Unfortunately, fungi also love strawberries, and so they are routinely sprayed with chemicals (pesticides and fungicides) and then covered in plastic, so the chemicals really permeate the berries.  The USDA has identified more than 60 different chemicals on strawberries (slightly less with frozen strawberries).  Organic is really the only way to go with these beauties.

Having trouble finding organic strawberries?  Try kiwi or pineapple as alternatives.

Peaches:   Peaches are always on the Dirty Dozen list as well.  More than 60 pesticides have been identified on peaches.  Single-serving packs are just as bad, but there seem to be slightly less in canned peaches.  Peaches, like apples, absorb and contain pesticides, but it seems that cooking peaches (as in canning) “burns off” some of the chemicals–but not all, not even close.

If organic peaches are out of reach, consider watermelons, tangerines, oranges and grapefruit.

Spinach:  Spinach is the lead qualifier in the leafy greens category of highest number of pesticides identified–50 different kinds!  Ugh.  And while you can wash spinach (just like other produce), you can’t wash away what is contained in the plant itself.  Doesn’t spinach make you strong like Popeye?  Maybe, but organic spinach is best.  Frozen spinach has almost as many identified pesticides but canned is somewhat safer.  Maybe Popeye was on to something after all?

Nectarines (Imported):  If pesticides go with peaches, nectarines were probably destined to follow; nectarines are actually one of the most contaminated tree fruits on the market, especially imported nectarines.  The problem:  The countries where they are grown have different laws concerning pesticides, so you’re not even eating US legal levels and kinds of pesticides—you’re getting something entirely different.  Domestic nectarines, on average, contain 33 different kinds of pesticides (better than imported but still not good). Our advice:  Go organic on this one.

Organic nectarines aren’t always easy to find, so consider pineapple, mangoes, or papaya instead.

Our next blog will cover the last 6 items on the Dirty Dozen list.  As the seasons change, winter to spring, and soon enough, spring to summer, our produce options increase; and hopefully, prices will decrease a bit as fresh produce starts flowing in.  In the meantime, consider your options.  Eat wisely. Do your own research.  Some things are worth going the extra mile (or dollar) for.