Only because I like to avoid getting herbicides and pesticides on my hands which then might touch the banana flesh when pulling out the last part. I don't use soap, but some do. I rinse all of my fruits and veggies when possible even if I remove the peel.

[–] Rufio@lemm.ee 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

That’s next level fear. I’d imagine it would be extremely trace amounts if any that you’d end up digesting.

[–] irotsoma@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Yeah, but over time the damage builds up. Some of the currently popular pesticides are linked to both chromosome damage and neurological degeneration which are both cumulative.

Sure the chances of that alone causing cancer or something like Parkinson's disease are very low. But there are lots of things around us that have similar effects. Off gassing plastics on new furniture and clothing, heavy metals in water and food, certain diseases like COVID, radiation for airplane rides and x-rays, etc. Each on of those are minuscule alone, even over a lifetime, but together they can cause issues. So things that are easily avoidable, may as well avoid. Pesticides and herbicides are mostly water soluable, so a little water can reduce the exposure significantly. And a lot of products that have peels that most people don't eat and aren't in the ground, so they don't get dirty, don't get rinsed by the growers. Some grocery stores do rinse them to make them more presentable, but not all.

Still you're right that the only way to get toxic exposure that alone could cause cancer, Parkinson's, etc., is if you work in the fields and aren't given a mask. Especially if they are spraying while people are out picking. And with grocers often rinsing them, it's not necessary.

It does also reduce your likelihood of catching COVID or other diseases from people who don't know how to wash their hands, which we found from COVID is disturbingly common for an educated country. But again, that risk is very low.

I just feel the effort is minimal, and the possible reward is high enough that it's worth it for me. It's of course also a privilege of living in a place where clean water is plentiful.

[–] soycapitan451@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Confirmed: Woody Allen is on Lemmy.

[–] Piers@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Just like me trying to avoid sweeteners for decades now because I suspect they might turn out to be bad for you (and noone has ever tried to suggest they are actively good for you...) If it turns out you're wrong, you've lost very little, if it turns out you're right then there's no way to retroactively undo the harm.

I have a fairly sensitive sense of taste and if I eat an unwashed fruit with a rind and manage to touch the actual fruit without washing my hands after touching the rind, I can often taste a bitter chemical flavour that otherwise isn't there. How harmful those chemicals may be and how exposed I'd be without directly transfering them to the food or to my mouth (or eyes or whatever) I'm unsure (and, tbh, while I always wash oranges and stuff, I often eat bananas unwashed as there's no need for the outside to come into direct or indirect contact with the actual fruit itself.) I'd still prefer to just not eat whatever it is if I can trivially avoid it (both for possible safety reasons and just not having my food taste like bitter chemicals reasons.)

[–] InfiniWheel@lemmy.one 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I'm pretty sure its a general health recommendation to wash all your fruits, including the ones you have to peel.