There has been an onslaught of negative news recently centered on diseases and harmful side-effects related to certain types of vegetables and produce.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced that 23 people in four states have been sickened with E. coli and the suspected culprit is bagged lettuce. This isn’t the first time that pre-cut lettuce has caused concern, one of the most terrifying events was in 2006 when an outbreak of E. coli associated with Dole bagged spinach sickened 238 people and caused five deaths.

These events have caused many experts to be concerned with the safety of bagged produce. Michael Doyle, a nationally known microbiologist who directs the Center for Food Safety at the University of Georgia believes current practices (of growing and processing bagged lettuce) are very hazardous. Doyle was instrumental in a recent study that highlighted how easily E. coli bacteria spread from farming equipment to heads of lettuce and that washing the produce did not kill enough of the bacteria. See the full story here: http://tinyurl.com/2aed3ty

Another growing concern is that vegetables sprayed with pesticides may cause ADHD in children. A recent study determined that traces of pesticides were found in the urine of 94% of the children under observation. Experts link high levels of the pesticides to increased chances of ADHD in children.

The good news is that there seems to be a simple solution. Maryse Bouchard of the University of Montreal is one expert who believes that people can limit their exposure to pesticides by eating organic produce. Further, a 2008 Emory University study found that if children switched to organically grown fruits and vegetables, urine levels of pesticide compounds dropped to undetectable levels or close to undetectable levels. Check out the full story here: ttp://tinyurl.com/24ef2nc

The traditional advice given by doctors and health professionals of eating fruits and veggies is quickly becoming outdated. Instead, we now have to look at where our food comes from. We have to look at how our food is prepared. New information suggests that convenience (in the form of bagged lettuce versus a traditional head of lettuce) and low price (mass produced vegetables susceptible to pesticides versus natural or organically grown vegetables) may come at a steep cost.