On Sun, 24 Feb 2008 10:19:57 -0700, Ashley Moran  
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> This time asking if we should wash fruit.  Pretty shabby reporting,  
> focuses on pesticide residues but does not mention organic farming.
Most fruit grows on trees (except for strawberries and melons), so is less
likely to have dirt (soil) on it, whether organically grown or not.
It's wise to at least rinse off bought fruit, even those you normally peel.
Most of it comes from 1000s of miles away and is handled by many people  
before
you buy it.

If you have a good local organic or biodynamic source of vegetables, they
keep better if NOT washed.  Wash (and peel if applicable) before using.

> I agree though that this is really drummed into people.  I had someone  
> once ask if I'd washed an apple that he saw me PULL OFF A TREE.  Anyone  
> got any similar experiences of food hygiene paranoia?
Some of the apples I pull off my tree have a bit of bird dropping on them,
so it would make sense to wash them.  If your tree is right next to a busy
road, thus covered in dust and exhaust, washing is a really good idea.
Usually I don't wash fruit from my yard, however, and I've never had a
problem.

People can get really TOO paranoid about dirt. Dirt has been a
part of the human diet since before paleo times.  It's only nowadays that
"dirt" is so much more toxic than it's ever been, leading to dirt phobias.
Stay away from the herbicides, pesticides, pollutants, exhaust, hormones,
antibiotics, and CAFO animal wastes, and you'll probably be all right.

	Lynnet