Thanksgiving math: the false calculus of pesticide residues In
my family Thanksgiving means cranberries, sweet potatoes, and
green bean casserole. So I decided to check these foods out on
WhatsOnMyFood.org. The results weren’t exactly appetizing.
Here’s what the USDA found, after washing: Green beans: 44
different pesticides with the most commonly detected being
acephate, a highly neurotoxic organophosphate insecticide. One
sample had 200 micrograms of it per 100 gram serving (slightly
more than one cup). That may not sound like a lot, but it's
twice the EPA's level of concern for children. And while only
one of the 560 samples tested by the USDA had this high level,
the U.S. has 70 million-odd kids. If only one quarter of those
children eats a cup of green beans at some point next week, and
one of out every 560 of those servings is contaminated at this
level, then more than 30,000 kids will be receiving a risky dose
of acephate. 30,000 kids consuming risky doses of a highly
neurotoxic pesticide is an unaccep