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How do you define “eating healthy”? Is it low will be rejected. This is all very encouraging.
calorie? Is it low salt? Is it low fat? There is no However, in the approval process for any
one, clear definition. Most health profession- pesticide or artificial ingredient, when little is
als would be in favor of all three. I believe it is known about possible detrimental effects on
also eating foods free of pesticides, artificial people, animals, plants and the environment,
ingredients and preservatives. And eating our government will apply the standard of
.
healthy means eating foods that have not GRAS, “generally recognized as safe” Our
been altered genetically or through cross- EU counterparts follow the Precautionary
breeding. This last category, altered foods, Principle, which will prohibit the use of a
is becoming more and more difficult to substance if it “covers cases where scientific
accomplish, making it even more important evidence is insufficient, inconclusive or un-
to do all the rest. certain and preliminary scientific evaluation
indicates that there are reasonable grounds
The federal government regulates pesticide for concern that the potentially dangerous
use and monitors, randomly, the residue left effects on the environment, human, animal
on our fruits and vegetables, at introduction or plant health may be inconsistent with the
into our country, at harvest and with “Market high level of protection chosen by the EU.”
.
Basket Surveys” A representative from NPIC, (European Commission, 2000) .
2
National Pesticide Information Center ¹,
informed me that the equipment used to The easiest way to avoid pesticides, artificial
test our produce is extremely sensitive and ingredients and preservatives is to eat as
if someone has used two different approved many organically produced fruits, vegetables
pesticides that work in the same way, and the and animal products as possible. In 2001,
total residue exceeds Federally mandated Congress established the National
tolerances, it can be detected and the crops Organic Program, NOP, to develop and
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