Pesticides in our food: what should we really worry about? | Nick Mole

Can washing fruit remove pesticides? And how many pesticide residues might actually be on the food we eat?

Pesticides are widely used to grow and protect the food we eat. But how safe are they, how do they end up on our plates and what should food lovers actually worry about?

In this episode of In Good Taste, I sit down with Nick Mole from the Pesticide Action Network UK to unpack the role pesticides play in modern farming and food systems.

From apples and grapes to cereals and bread, we explore how pesticide residues end up in everyday foods, what scientists do and do not know about long term health impacts and how pesticides affect biodiversity from insects to birds.

We also talk about why pesticides became so embedded in modern agriculture and what practical steps consumers can take without panic or perfection.

• What pesticides actually are and why they are used in farming
• How pesticide residues end up on fruit, vegetables and cereals
• Why some foods carry multiple pesticide residues
• The impact pesticides can have on bees, birds and biodiversity
• What scientists know and still do not know about long term health effects
• The cocktail effect of multiple pesticide exposures
• Whether washing fruit and vegetables removes pesticides
• Pan's Dirty Dozen list to identify which foods often carry the most residues
• Practical ways to reduce exposure without overcomplicating your diet

I’m Mallika Basu, food writer, speaker and adviser, on a mission to make food matters accessible and joyful. My new book, In Good Taste: What Shapes What We Eat and Drink and Why It Matters, is available now.

Say hello or pitch ideas: ingoodtastepod@gmail.com