Which veggies and fruits have the most chemicals from fertilizer?
A worldwide systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of nitrate and nitrite in vegetables and fruits.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Cantaloupe has a reported 95% CI of -224.53 to 665.19 mg/kg — a negative lower bound.
Negative nitrate levels are scientifically impossible, suggesting possible data errors, outliers, or statistical anomalies in the meta-analysis.
Practical Takeaways
If you eat a lot of rocket, mizuna, or bok choy, consider rotating them with lower-nitrate greens like lettuce or cabbage — especially if you live in a hot, rainy region.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Cantaloupe has a reported 95% CI of -224.53 to 665.19 mg/kg — a negative lower bound.
Negative nitrate levels are scientifically impossible, suggesting possible data errors, outliers, or statistical anomalies in the meta-analysis.
Practical Takeaways
If you eat a lot of rocket, mizuna, or bok choy, consider rotating them with lower-nitrate greens like lettuce or cabbage — especially if you live in a hot, rainy region.
Publication
Journal
Ecotoxicology and environmental safety
Year
2023
Authors
M. Hosseini, Samaneh Dezhangah, Farinaz Esmi, Maryam S. Gharavi-nakhjavani, Fataneh Hashempour-baltork, Adel Mirza Alizadeh
Related Content
Claims (6)
Among all vegetables, rocket, mizuna, and bok choy have the most nitrate and nitrite—like natural preservatives—so if you eat these greens, you’re getting more of these compounds than from other veggies.
Vegetables and fruits in Brazil, Estonia, and Taiwan have more nitrates and nitrites than in other countries, with Brazil having the most—this suggests that where you grow your produce can affect how much of these chemicals are in it.
Vegetables and fruits both have a lot more nitrate than nitrite, and the amount of nitrite is about the same in both kinds of food.
When it’s really humid, rains a lot, stays warm, and farmers use lots of fertilizer, the fruits and veggies you eat tend to have more nitrates and nitrites in them.
Countries where food is safer and more reliably available, like Poland and Portugal, tend to have less harmful chemicals called nitrates and nitrites in their fruits and vegetables.