Alar and apples

by Lydia Diaz

The impact of pesticides, and alar in particular, on young children has been the subject of much debate. In 1989, 60 Minutes aired a program about the pesticide alar in apples and apple juice. The EPA banned food uses of alar in 1989 after hearing a number of broadcasts on the subject, and in spite of pressure being put upon it by UniRoyal, the sole manufacturer of alar. Apple growers sued, and had their suit dismissed.

Given the fact that many children ingest apples and apple juice, the government feels that it has a responsibility to protect our most vulnerable population against any chemical which poses a potential threat to their health. Children have been shown to demonstrate higher concentrations of chemicals in their bodies, as a percentage of body weight. Given increases in asthma, allergies, and food sensitivities, it would be wise to err on the side of caution where children are concerned. Even the American Council on Science and Health, that bastion of right-leaning pro-business sentiment, had to concede that in 1978, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) published the results of a study of alar (daminozide) that concluded that it was a weak carcinogen. What's more disturbing is the fact that facts need to be brought out by the media (and generate a public outcry) before the USDA, which is often influenced by agribusiness, decides to take steps to eliminate chemicals from our food supply.



Apples are one of a number of fruit - like berries and peaches - that rely heavily on pesticide spraying to keep them blemish-free. The old adage "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" is based primarily on the high concentration of antioxidants found in apple skins (particularly Red Delicious apples, which have about 500 times more antioxidants than other apple varieties). Given that fact, why would we want to risk our health? For more information, visit the Environmental Working Group page at ewg.org.

You can also visit our produce and pesticides page to learn more about pesticides, and how you can avoid pesticides in your food.