Do you clean your berries? Doctor shares science-backed way to remove 96% of pesticides

Berries like strawberries and blueberries often carry pesticide residue and should be cleaned thoroughly before consumption. (Image: Pexels)

• Berries often have high pesticide residue; clean thoroughly before eating.
• Soak berries in 1% baking soda for 12-15 mins to remove 96% of pesticides.
• Soak berries in vinegar water for 5 mins, then rinse.

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Who doesn’t love berries? They are not just delicious but healthy too. Whether blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries, they are packed with antioxidants, fibre, and vitamin C. These help improve blood sugar and insulin response, lower cholesterol, aid digestion, boost brain function, and more.

While they are great for health, you must know that they need to be cleaned thoroughly before consuming them. This is because they can have high amounts of pesticide residue. Just like other fresh fruits or veggies, they may be contaminated with bacteria that can cause food-borne illness due to exposure to soil, water, animals, or human handling during harvesting, transportation, or storage on store shelves. This implies that just washing them with water may not be enough.

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Dr Myro Figura took to his Instagram account and said, “Though berries are extremely healthy, they have a ton of pesticides on them, especially strawberries that appear on the dirty dozen list.” He went on to share the list of produce with the highest pesticide residues. These include:

• Spinach
• Strawberries
• Kale, collard, and mustard greens
• Grapes
• Peaches
• Cherries
• Nectarines
• Pears
• Apples
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Potatoes

How to clean berries?

If you’re planning to store strawberries rather than eat them right away, it’s best to keep the green caps (calyx) intact until you’re ready to wash them. This helps retain their juices and limits water absorption, which can affect their taste.  Remove the caps, which have most of the insecticides, when you are ready to wash and eat them.

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A post shared by Myro Figura MD | Anesthesiologist 💉 (@doctormyro)

Dr Figure advised, “Try a 1% baking soda solution. 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 2 cups of water. Soak your berries in there for 12 to 15 minutes.” These will effectively clean them, as he added, “According to a UMass study, this method removed up to 96% of the pesticides they measured.”

Also Read: 5 common foods that help detoxify kidneys, keep them healthy

Another way to wash strawberries or blueberries is by soaking them in white vinegar. Add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to 2 cups of water and let them remain for about 5 minutes. Finally, clean them under running water.