How bothered are you about pesticides on food?

[Tressle]

We have gone at least 50% organic, not too hung up about it, but have read a few unsettling reports about wheat and oats in particular (spraying prior to harvest leaving a ton of residue that many countries and councils have banned as potentially carcinogenic and environmentally destructive to soil, water and biodiversity).

Seems that a lot of people from the King of England to Tim Spector have spoken out about glyphosate, so I have the impression that there is more awareness or at least a growing push to seek alternatives now.

In general, how bothered would you be about this?
Trying to go 100% organic would be insanely hard work (for us) and I haven't the patience or time to pull it off to be honest but I am interested how other people feel about it.
Is it even worth bothering if you can't go 100%??
We are aware of 'the dirty dozen' and stick by that if and when we can. Been cutting out non organic wheat this past few months and oh god I long for an M$S pizza, lol, it used to be a Friday treat

Not at all.

Not bothered in the slightest

No bothered at all. Wash fruit and veg before eating, organic or not.

Thanks!
Would love to know why?

I suppose there's some worrying info but no one seems to know to what extent, with few studies to assist.

I would wonder why so many countries and councils have banned it, if it isn't anything to be concerned about though.

Enough that as we get financially free-er as we get older I am prioritising our food bill to make healthier choices, picking up more organic, less UPF etc.

My food priority is no longer keeping the bill as cheap as possible, as we don’t need it to be. We get a Riverford box every week. But I don’t buy everything organic, it always surprises me just how many products can be organic! Haven’t really extended to the dried foods yet, still have teens at home so do have to balance cost and health pragmatically!

Not at all. I’m gonna go at some point so I want to go happy (and tanned)

I'm pretty bothered by it and do get organic oats asi know that's a particularly bad one. I prioritise a range of fruit and veg over organic generally. I wish I voukd afford all organic but that would mean sticking to pretty much only apples as fruit and carrots as veg!

I am a bit bothered but only really get organic peppers, oats and cucumbers- berries when possible. I am not so concerned that I have done fact checking or started baking my own bread though!

I've seen a lot of pesticides first hand and they're really horrible products and really worry me. I wouldn't even use organic pesticides on things I grow myself and I only buy organic food if there's an option of it. Unless you're the one spraying it where the risk of harm is much higher, it's a long term exposure problem so it's hard to get people to understand as they don't see any immediate harm. That's without thinking about all the harm pesticides cause to our insect population which our whole ecosystem relies upon.

Well the tanning comment tickled me

As for wheat, I do love a once per week pizza and sadly my own attempts are utterly terrible. I do wonder though, like with people who avoid UPF, where is that line drawn where you still have a bit of what you fancy and still making a difference to health and environment?
Is one pizza per week so disastrous?

I also read about how much shit we are polluting the environment with from shower gel, household stuff, car particulates, things we can barely contain. This is likely bound up with everything we do now, from our devices to our clothes.

I doubt we can make a huge dent individually, but it is worth it to try, i believe.

I buy quite a bit organic but it’s inconsistent, and definitely not as much as 50% overall. I think it is a huge concern, the chemicals we ingest, but they are so endemic it’s very difficult to live a life free from them. One I feel particularly feel strongly about is artificial sweeteners and do go to lengths not to consume them or have my children consume them, as far as I can.

Not in the slightest.

Funnily we had a conversation about this not long ago as while we choose organic fruit and veg where we can we didn't know oats are particularly bad so we are looking at doing more research and making more changes where budget allows. I'm relatively new to making these health conscious changes for me and my family.

I hate them. Years ago our food was organic and we didn’t have to pay though the nose for it

I didn’t realise oats were particularly bad, my teens eat oats everyday 😩

I buy what I can organic (shop at Sainsbury’s/Waitrose/Riverford for the bigger ranges) but I don’t buy everything organic because I’m not willing to make everything from scratch! For me it’s as much about the environment and farm workers’ health as it is about my own family’s health. I can’t in good conscience buy non-organic bananas.

There are arguments that a good portion of society wouldn't get fed if we reduced pesticide usage and moved fully organic. I can definitely see the point, but I am also cynical enough to believe that food is kept deliberately low cost in the UK: in contrast, housing costs are deliberately fixed to remain laughably high. Too many messy political issues to go into!

All that to say, I doubt our food system is going to change any time soon.

Never crosses my mind.

Well it does bother me yes and I try and wash everything.

I never ever knew oats where an issue !
Organic from now on !!

@checkcheckcheckchick we can't win can we ! One would think oats are excellent for DC to consume.

I am curious why those who say it doesn't bother them only leave one short sentence. I would be interested to know why? I like to hear all sides of a discussion!

I have too many other problems! 😊
We don't eat much wheat or oats. Wash veg and fruit.

I feel this!
Have had a disastrous 12 months and it does feel like a new bloody burden.

Because life is too bloody short to worry about it.

that's a fair answer!