Summary
Growing concern over pesticide residues on fresh fruit has highlighted the need for simple, effective washing methods that consumers can use at home. This study evaluated several household ingredients—corn starch, all-purpose flour, rice flour, and baking soda—alongside four commercial produce washes to determine how well they could remove the pesticide thiabendazole from fruit surfaces, both with and without a non-ionic surfactant (Alligare 90®). Using rapid, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to measure residues directly on apple skin, researchers found that a two-step soak in 2% corn starch followed by 5% baking soda was the most effective homemade method, removing over 94% of the pesticide regardless of surfactant presence. Among commercial products, “Product 4” performed slightly better, removing about 95%, though its ingredient profile raised safety concerns that may limit its practical use. Additional LC-MS/MS testing confirmed that both the homemade and commercial approaches were effective across multiple fruits—apples, grapes, lemons, and strawberries. Overall, the findings show that simple, accessible household mixtures can rival or exceed commercial products, offering practical guidance for reducing pesticide residues and improving fruit safety.
PMID: 39856984
PMCID: PMC11764615.
DOI: 10.3390/foods14020318
Abstract
Pesticide residues on fruits pose a global food safety concern, emphasizing the need for effective and practical removal strategies to ensure safe consumption. This study investigates the efficacy of household ingredients (corn starch, all-purpose flour, rice flour and baking soda) and four commercial fresh produce wash products in eliminating a model pesticide thiabendazole with and without a model non-ionic surfactant Alligare 90® from postharvest fruits. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was employed for the rapid, in situ quantification of residue removal on apple surfaces. Soaking in 2% corn starch followed by soaking in 5% baking was the most effective homemade strategy, removing 94.13% and 91.78% of thiabendazole with and without the surfactant. Among commercial washing agents, soaking in 2% Product 4 demonstrated the highest efficiency, removing 95.3% and 95.99% of thiabendazole with and without surfactant. These results suggested that the non-ionic surfactant did not affect removal efficiency. Both protocols were effective across various fruits (apples, grapes, lemons, strawberries), validated by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analyses. However, safety concerns regarding the composition of Product 4 highlighted the benefits of homemade strategies. Overall, this work offers practical guidelines for reducing pesticide residues on fruits and enhancing food.
Du X, Ho L, Li S, Doherty J, Lee J, Clark JM, He L. Efficacy of Household and Commercial Washing Agents in Removing the Pesticide Thiabendazole Residues from Fruits. Foods. 2025 Jan 18;14(2):318. doi: 10.3390/foods14020318. PMID: 39856984; PMCID: PMC11764615.