Re: Are there any farming pesticides that are safe to use on crops?

All pesticides approved by the U.S. government are considered safe if used
according to the directions. There is no scientific evidence that tiny amounts
of approved pesticides that are found in or on food harm people or are
unhealthy. Pesticides that are found unsafe for human health or the environment
are banned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The same agency also
sets pesticide tolerances, which are the amounts of pesticides that can remain
in or on food. 

Like many things, including guns, knives, stoves, electrical appliances,
alcohol, bicycles and cars, pesticides can be dangerous if they are used
improperly. The main danger is to the person applying the pesticides, not the
consumer. If scientific evidence indicates that pesticide residues in food might
be a danger to human health, then that pesticide is banned. Pesticides may also
be banned if they pose a danger to wildlife. The pesticide DDT was banned not
because it was a danger to human health but because it harmed birds of prey by
making their eggshells soft. 

There seems to be no scientific evidence that organically-grown food is
healthier than food grown with pesticides and inorganic fertilizers. See items 8
and 19 of the second reference.

The main health problems with the food supply are 

1. Too many people overeat and suffer health problems caused by obesity.
2. Too many people make unhealthy food choices such as foods high in saturated
fat or low in vitamins and minerals (empty calories, junk foods). 
3. Too many people eat too few fruits, vegetables and whole grains. 

The US Dept. of Health and Human Services and USDA recently changed dietary
guidelines to urge people to eat fewer calories, exercise more, and eat more
fruits, vegetables and whole grains. It also called for people to limit intake
of salt, sugar, trans fats, saturated fats and cholesterol. It is noteworthy
that the HHS and USDA announcement did not mention pesticides or organic foods.

However, the widely available USDA food pyramid is still faulty in several ways.
For example, there is no reason to require meat in the diet. The USDA's main
mission is to support the agricultural industry, so politically the USDA cannot
say meat is optional in the diet. All-vegetarian diets can be just as healthy as
diets with meat. Walter Willett has a superior food pyramid (see reference 3).  


References
 

Pesticide Tolerances


Twenty-Five Ways to Spot Quacks and Vitamin Pushers


Nutrition Book Author Willett Rebuilds USDA Food Pyramid


Collins, Clayton. 2005.  "The food pyramid is crumbling, but will most Americans
notice?" Christian Science Monitor January 19


Transcript Of HHS and USDA Press Conference Announcement Of New Dietary
Guidelines For Americans With Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G.
Thompson and Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman - Washington D.C. - January
12, 2005