Food additives lower the nutritive value of food and are used to mask cosmetic defects. Nutritive value is not determined by the number of additives. Common food allergens include chicken and citrus fruits. Pesticide residues on fruit are at unacceptable and hazardous levels. In its 1996 Total Diet Study, in which it analyzed fruits and other foods purchased from supermarkets, the FDA found no residues in infant or adult foods over levels allowed by the FDA or Environmental Protection Agency.
Organic produce is pesticide-free.
According to unofficial national organic standards, organic farmers can use naturally-occurring pesticides, such as sulfur, on produce. In fact, most organic farmers use such pesticides. Organic produce does not need to be washed. Non-organic produce should be washed with water and a few drops of pure soap. Moreover, it is not known if soap is effective in ridding pesticide residues from produce.