Pesticide Exposure: Is it Safe During Pregnancy?
Should I be concerned about consuming pesticides when I'm pregnant and stick to organic foods?
You're concerned about your pregnancy health and wondering about being exposed low levels of pesticides. Is it safe during pregnancy?
Pesticides have been found to cross the placenta during pregnancy, however there is no current research that has proved an adverse health effect from consuming low levels of pesticides. But to be safe, you should avoid using pesticides or insecticides in your home, on your pets, or in your yard during pregnancy— especially during the first trimester.
If you're still concerned about pesticides and your pregnancy health, you can consider having an organic pregnancy. Buying organic foods, if that fits with your budget (organic foods generally cost more), could be a good option. You also can ask your local farmer's market if they use pesticides in their produce.
You can use a fruit/vegetable wash specially made to reduce the pesticide residue; however, many forms of pesticides cannot be washed off fresh fruits and vegetables. An organic pregnancy is the only way to be sure you're not consuming any pesticides. If you're not committed to an organic pregnancy but you're still concerned about your pregnancy health, consider eating fruits like bananas, oranges and melons, which have peels you discard before eating, so may be more safe during pregnancy.
As with all foods, during and after pregnancy, make sure you play it safe by washing all fruits and vegetables before eating, preventing meat and poultry from contaminating other foods by washing down food preparation areas thoroughly, cooking all foods to their appropriate temperatures and promptly refrigerating any leftovers.
Pesticides have been found to cross the placenta during pregnancy, however there is no current research that has proved an adverse health effect from consuming low levels of pesticides. But to be safe, you should avoid using pesticides or insecticides in your home, on your pets, or in your yard during pregnancy— especially during the first trimester.
If you're still concerned about pesticides and your pregnancy health, you can consider having an organic pregnancy. Buying organic foods, if that fits with your budget (organic foods generally cost more), could be a good option. You also can ask your local farmer's market if they use pesticides in their produce.
You can use a fruit/vegetable wash specially made to reduce the pesticide residue; however, many forms of pesticides cannot be washed off fresh fruits and vegetables. An organic pregnancy is the only way to be sure you're not consuming any pesticides. If you're not committed to an organic pregnancy but you're still concerned about your pregnancy health, consider eating fruits like bananas, oranges and melons, which have peels you discard before eating, so may be more safe during pregnancy.
As with all foods, during and after pregnancy, make sure you play it safe by washing all fruits and vegetables before eating, preventing meat and poultry from contaminating other foods by washing down food preparation areas thoroughly, cooking all foods to their appropriate temperatures and promptly refrigerating any leftovers.
Answered by
Nora Idrogo, RD
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