Conceptual

Blue Berry

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According to the USDA Pesticide Data Program (PDP), 50.8% of conventionally produced (which ironically translates to non-organic) blueberries in the US tested positive for residue of Boscalid. Boscalid is a common fungicide for beans, berries, bulb vegetables, canola, carrots, fruiting vegetables, grapes, lettuce, peanuts, and a lot more. It’s also ambiguously classified under “suggestive evidence of carcinogenicity, but not sufficient to assess human carcinogenic potential”. Considering the fact that these berries were tested after washing and rinsing at the producer's processing facility, measuring the volume of chemicals used during production is an unknown that I think is worth noting. The good news is that the EPA found threshold toxicity levels at 15260 μg/day for a 154 lb male and that’s far, far beyond normal human consumption.

What about Iprodione? It’s 4th on the list of detected chemicals on blueberries. This anti-fungal, carcinogenic, hormone disrupting cash cow was developed by agrochemical leader Aventis CropScience, later acquired by Bayer. The PDP discovered a concerning maximum of 210μg on one 3.5oz sample of imported blueberries but a much more conservative average of 4μg. In the US the average was 0.4μg with a max of 25μg. However, unlike the relatively benign Boscalid, the EPA’s toxicity threshold is rated at only 406.7 for a child of 44lbs.

Those are just 2 of the 8 known or probable carcinogens, 22 suspected hormone disruptors, 14 neurotoxins, 7 developmental or reproductive toxins, and 17 honeybee toxins (which are a threat to our entire ecosystem upon which we wholly depend on) detected on commercial produced blueberries. Domestic and imported.

If that’s not so bad, this is. The FDA does not typically test for synergistic or cumulative effects. There’s a chemical cocktail at play in our bodies that may not have repercussions today but what about over the course of a lifetime? What is to become of our children?

We’ve come a long way studying cancer but neurological disorders which the causes are still not fully understood (Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, Lewy bodies) are increasing at a disturbing rate in developed markets like the US, Canada and Australia.

Don’t worry, there’s a light at the end of this dark tunnel. The only chemical residue present on organic blueberries they tested was that of Bifenthrin, a developmental toxin and likely carcinogen and hormone disruptor. Even if things can’t be perfect, ingesting trace amounts of one harmful substance is obviously better than a mysterious buffet of chemical compounds.

Choosing organic should be the only choice – and in time it will be. How do we repair the unfortunate reality of ‘organic = expensive’? Or rather, convince consumers that going cheap isn’t worth it? As more people see the intrinsic value in organic products, the cheaper and more plentiful they become. In the US, the only real ballot is a dollar bill. Vote organic! Because now we know better.