(ALISO VIEJO, CA) – September 12th, 2016. In recent years, consumers have become increasingly aware of the potential risk of pesticide residue on fresh produce, opting to purchase organic fruit and vegetables. Now, in a recent study released from Grow Green Industries, Inc., up to 98% of fungicides such as Carbendazim and neoninicotinoid pesticides such as Imidacloprid, can be removed from whole porous fruit such as strawberries through effective cleaning with Eat Cleaner Fruit + Vegetable Wash.
A comprehensive pesticide reduction analysis conducted by Weck Analytical Laboratories, Inc. where a sample group of strawberries were each spiked with 1000 mg/L of Carbendazim and another two groups were spiked with 1000 mg of Imidacloprid to mimic field application. One of each of these groups were treated with a 30 second soak of Eat Cleaner Fruit + Vegetable Wash Spray, and the other group was treated with a 30 second soak of Eat Cleaner Fruit + Vegetable Wash Powder. A control set was rinsed with a 30 second water rinse only. After these treatments, the strawberries were homogenized (pureed) and the entire fruit was extracted to analyze the effectiveness of the various treatments on the interior and exterior.
Eat Cleaner Fruit + Vegetable Wash Spray was effective in removing 97% of Carbendazim and 98% of Imidacloprid from the treated strawberries. Eat Cleaner Fruit + Vegetable Wash Powder was effective in removing 95% of Carbendazim and 98% of Imidacloprid from the treated strawberries. The water rinse was 26% effective in removing Carbendazim and 46% effective in removing Imidacloprid. “We concluded that both the Eat Cleaner Fruit + Vegetable Wash Spray and Powder are significantly more effective at removing Imidacloprid and Carbendazim from strawberries than water alone,” noted Brandon Gee, Senior Project Manager, Weck Laboratories Inc.
“Strawberries were named the most contaminated of all produce items by the Environmental Working Group in 2016. However, organic strawberries represent less than 10% of the market nationwide, and even organic strawberries can be exposed to methyl bromide and other toxic chemicals. This test validates that with proper cleaning of both organic and conventionally-grown strawberries, consumers can feel 100% better about washing pesticide residue away from their fresh produce, whether they’re eating at home or at a restaurant,” commented Mareya Ibrahim, Founder and CEO, Grow Green Industries, Inc.
Imidacloprid is an insecticide made to mimic nicotine, and has been linked to the bee collapse due to its high toxicity to honeybees. According to the EPA, it has the potential to leach to ground water. Carbendizim is a suspected endocrine disruptor and is a possible carcinogen according to pesticideinfo.org.
“These fungicide and pesticide residues can build up in the body over time and impact health negatively, and some have been linked to cancer and other chronic diseases. Knowing that these can be mitigated with proper washing of a porous fruit such as a strawberry is a very powerful finding,” added Dr. Shawki Ibrahim, Ph.D. Environmental Health Sciences. “Using Eat Cleaner Fruit + Vegetable Wash Spray and Powder is so much more effective than water alone based on Weck Lab’s Conclusion.”
For full lab results or to set up an interview with Ms. Ibrahim or Dr. Ibrahim, please contact Leigh-Anne Anderson at T: 310-990-5752 or leighanne@anderson-pr.com.
About Eat Cleaner®
Eat Cleaner®, a DBA of Grow Green Industries, INC., is the only line of all natural, patented food wash and wipes that is up to 99.99% more effective than water alone in removing the wax, pesticides and residue that can carry bacteria from fresh fruit and vegetables, while extending produce life up to 5x longer. Products are safe, tasteless and odorless on food, and available for both consumer and commercial package sizes. Eat Cleaner is a certified minority woman owned business and products are manufactured in Southern California.
