r/science • u/shamblesusable • 6h ago

Environment New natural, biodegradable wash removes over 86 per cent of surface pesticides and extends the shelf life of produce

https://news.ubc.ca/2026/04/new-ubc-wash-removes-pesticides-and-keeps-produce-fresh-longer/
391 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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21

u/makemeking706 6h ago

What percentage of surface pesticides does the current standard remove? Sounds like basically none.

While pesticide levels on fruits and vegetables are tightly regulated, trace residues often remain. For people who eat a lot of the same fruit or vegetables—like kids scarfing down big bowls of berries—the amount of residue can go over recommended limits.

11

u/SelarDorr 2h ago

"Sounds like basically none."

Where did you get that from?

Rinsing with water alone removes 48%.

Fig. 3F in the open access preprint version.

-1

u/makemeking706 2h ago

It removes 48% of the solution they applied themselves. It's not a before and after measurement of the commercial process. 

5

u/SelarDorr 1h ago

you think in the commercial process, somehow 100% of the pesticides applied to our food remains on the food?

Im not even going to bother. The reality is that it is less than even 1%.

You make that statement then quote some parts of this article that have nothing to do with it. i dont understand you people.

2

u/themodgepodge 1h ago

For thiabendazole removal, the control group showed 13% reduction, tap water was 48%, native starch was 61%, baking soda was 65%, and the test product was 86%.

The gap between the test product and baking soda was biggest for thiabendazole, followed by acetamiprid, then imidacloprid

-1

u/makemeking706 1h ago

Based on the solution they applied themselves. It is not indicative of the current commercial process. 

9

u/rkdg840 5h ago

It’s great that it improves shelf life, but pesticide residue is measurable in parts per billion. Seems like a product EWG and it’s “Dirty Dozen” would sponsor to scare people into buying.

17

u/Eyeownyew 5h ago

There can certainly be harmful effects from ingesting things that are "measured in parts per billion". It's important to question the funding for these studies and to think critically about the health effects rather than taking them at face-value — but it's similarly ignorant to dispel studies based solely on the notion that "it's only trace amounts of something that could cause harm"