and your
C r*/\ United States Environmental Protection Agency
C	Office of Pesticide Programs (EPA-735-F-98-001)
In consultation with
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
U.S. Department of Agriculture

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Pesticides are used to protect food from pests, such as
insects, rodents, weeds, mold, and bacteria. While
pesticides have important uses, studies show that some pes-
ticides cause health problems at certain levels of exposure.
To protect your health, the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) sets standards on the amount of pesticides
that may remain on food, if pesticides are applied.
The Food Quality Protection Act, signed into law by
President Clinton in 1996, now sets a tougher standard for
pesticide use on food. EPA will consider the public's overall
exposure to pesticides (through food, water, and in home
environments) when making decisions to set standards for
pesticide use on food.
Infants and children may be more
vulnerable to pesticide exposure
Most importantly, each of these decisions must protect
infants and children, whose developing bodies may be espe-
cially vulnerable to pesticide exposure:
^ Since their internal organs are still developing and
maturing, infants and children may be more vulnerable
to health risks posed by pesticides.
^ In relation to their body weight, infants and children eat
and drink more than adults, which may increase their
exposure to pesticides in food and water.
~ Certain behaviors—such as playing on floors or lawns or
putting objects in their mouths—increase a child's expo-
sure to pesticides used in homes and yards.
By 2006, EPA must review all old pesticides to make
sure that their use on food meets the new, tougher safety
standard. At the same time, the federal government is
encouraging the innovation of safer pesticides that are less
likely to cause health problems.
You and your family have a right to know under the law
that in certain cases, such as significant disruption of U.S.
food production, a pesticide not meeting the safety standard
may be authorized. If this happens, EPA will work with gro-
cery stores to inform you of such pesticides, foods that
might contain them, and equally nutritious alternatives.

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Healthy, Sensible Food
Practices
WASHING: Wash and scrub all
fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly
under running water Running water has
an abrasive effect that soaking does not
have. This will help remove bacteria and
traces of chemicals from the surface of fruits and vegetables
and dirt from crevices. Not all pesticide residues can be
removed by washing.
PEELING AND TRIMMING:
Peel fruits and vegetables when possible
to reduce dirt, bacteria, and pesticides.
Discard outer leaves of leafy vegetables.
Trim fat from meat and skin from poultry
and fish because some pesticide residues collect in fat.
SELECTING A VARIETY OF
FOODS: Eat a variety of foods, from a
variety of sources. This will give you a better
mix of nutrients and reduce your likelihood of
exposure to a single pesticide.
Health professionals recommend that
you eat at least five servings of fruits
and vegetables every day along with
a variety of other foods.
What about organic
or IPM-grown food?
Your grocer may be able to provide you with information
about the availability of food grown using fewer or no
pesticides. These foods are often grown using Integrated
Pest Management (IPM) or organic practices; however,
there are currently no national standards on these farming
practices.

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How can I find more
information?
Visit www.epa.gov/pesticides/food
EPA's Pesticide Right-to-Know Website has information on:

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You may also contact:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Pesticide Programs
Communication Services Branch (7506C)
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
National Pesticide Telecommunications Network
(general pesticide information) (800) 858-7378
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20250
Meat and Poultry Hotline (800) 535-4555
USDA National Organic Program (202) 720-3252
www.usda.gov
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
FDA Food Information Line (800) 332-4010
www.cfsan.fda.gov
To order free copies of this brochure call (800) 490-9198.

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