All fresh fruits and vegetables should be rinsed in clean, running water before slicing, peeling or eating to remove any residues on the surface. Avoid soap, unless it's especially meant for produce, because it leaves its own residues. Remove outer leaves of lettuce, cabbage, and other leafy vegetables. Eat a variety of foods. Not only do you get the nutritional benefits of food variety, but you also minimize pesticide risks.
Different crops require different pesticides, so variety limits exposure to any one type.
If you're a home gardener, minimize your use of pesticides. And follow the directions for their safe use, storage, and disposal. If you take nutritional supplements containing iron, be sure to keep them away from small children. Davis says that since 1986 poison control centers nationwide have received reports of more than 110,000 incidents of young children accidentally swallowing tablets with iron. More than 35 died.