Don't overlook organic diet.

A new study showing a link between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and pesticide exposure in children has raised alarm among parents concerned about their children’s health and safety. In response to the widespread concerns, the Omaha World-Herald published an article discussing ways in which people can minimize their exposure while still enjoying fruits and vegetables.

While the piece, by staff writer Michael O’Connor, gives instructive tips on washing techniques and types of produce most likely to be high in pesticides, it only briefly mentions the best way of avoiding pesticide exposure: Following an organic diet. Organic foods are those grown without using conventional pesticides.

There is strong evidence to show that consumers can reduce their pesticide exposure to negligible levels if they eat an organic diet. A recent study by Emory University researchers found that five days after switching from conventionally grown fruits and vegetables to organic ones, pesticides were virtually undetectable in the body. The study, done in a group of Seattle-area schoolchildren, also found that when the children resumed their typical diet, including non-organic produce, the pesticide levels in their bodies quickly returned to previous levels. This suggests that consistent, long-term changes in diet are needed to reduce pesticide exposure.

The piece downplays the importance of an organic diet for reducing pesticide exposure, instead emphasizing how readers can minimize the risks associated with a conventional diet. Admittedly, the higher costs of an organic diet dissuade some consumers from changing their eating habits. Nevertheless, in an article intended to instruct readers how to minimize their risks, it’s important to point out that scientific evidence suggests the best way is by switching to organic foods.