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Chemicals

What you eat

Like it or not, there are chemicals in and on the food we eat.

Consider making the following changes:

• Choose organic fruits and vegetables as they contain less or no pesticide residue
• Rinse all fruits and vegetables thoroughly to remove fertiliser residues (rinse over a bowl, capture and reuse the water in the garden or for rinsing out recyclables for collection)
• Don't microwave foods in plastic containers, as chemicals from the plastic container can become absorbed by food during microwaving
• Avoid food that is overly processed and heavily packaged

Although organic food might seem more expensive than conventional foods, conventional food prices don't reflect hidden costs borne by taxpayers, including federal subsidies. Other hidden costs include pesticide regulation and testing, hazardous waste disposal and clean-up, and environmental damage.