The Food Journal Examines Pesticides In Food

SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The majority of farm acres in the United States have pesticides used on them, according to an in-depth analysis of pesticides published in the next edition of The Food Journal.

According to the research, the use of pesticides is not just for killing insects.  Pesticides are used for many kinds of pests including bugs, weeds, bacteria, fungi and many other plant pests.  The collective oversight by the EPA, FDA and USDA provides approval for the safe and effective use of pesticides to produce food – including organic production.

"Most consumers assume if produce is labeled natural or organic, pesticides or chemicals were not used, but that's incorrect," says Phil Lempert, editor in chief of The Food Journal. "Retailers need to help consumers better understand what pesticides really are."

Also in this issue, an extensive breakdown of government regulations and pesticide enforcement, and an informative interview with Marty Matlock, PhD, PE, BCEE, executive director of the Office for Sustainability and professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Arkansas.

Lempert believes in the future, consumers will use apps and iPhones to test food for pesticides. "There's already a steel probe designed for an iPhone that detects nitrates in raw produce left behind by the use of synthetic fertilizers," says Lempert. He expects more apps that evaluate products and he hopes supermarkets help develop these programs.

The Food Journal is a unique and in-depth e-newsletter providing bi-monthly unbiased analysis and commentary. Each issue examines one timely topic as it relates to the food chain from soil to shelves. In addition, each issue contains dozens of links within the body of its copy to provide comprehensive information about the particular subject. As a result, The Food Journal also functions as an annotated bibliography on a specific topic. For more information or to subscribe, please visit the website at http://www.thefoodjournal.com/signup/.

SOURCE The Food Journal