"Though its use is banned here, DDT is still manufactured in the U.S. and then sold to foreign countries who use it on crops which are imported back into this country! The book Circle of Poison by David Weir and Mark Shapiro, calls this "The Crime of the Century." Since pesticides appear in higher concentrations in fruits and vegetables, we can only wonder about the effects it will have on the children of vegetarian women in the future. Based on the evidence, it would appear that vegetarian parents should strongly consider an organic diet. It is estimated that DDT will survive in the soil for over 100 years. Organically grown produce won't eliminate pesticide contamination, but eating organic fruits and vegetables along with Maverick Ranch Natural Meats should greatly reduce chemical exposure."

"DDE is a potent androgen (male hormone) blocker and may be a major factor in the 42% average decline in male sperm count in industrialized countries. Male fertility has dropped so dramatically only since 1940 due to chemical effects on hormone production. If the rate continues, only a small proportion of males will be able to reproduce by the year 2050."

"But many argue that without chemical use, the cost of food production would increase many times and effectively create starvation and economic hardships. At the same time, many scientists say that the costs in maintaining good health may now be to the point where they exceed the benefits. In order to select the best possible diet solution, we need to look at various food groups for amounts and levels of concentration of pesticides. We rate these from the least safe (1) to the safest (5):

1. Fish - Least safe (unless farm raised). Fish concentrate the toxins about 3,000 times more than the water they live in. Source: "Toxics A to Z" by Harte, Holden, Schneider and Shirley.
    
2. Fruits and Vegetables - (unless organically grown) They receive the highest amount of herbicides, fungicides and pesticides. They have the highest amount of violate residues.
    
3. Grains - Most receive only about 20% as much herbicides as fruits and vegetables.
    
4. Milk, Dairy products and Eggs - Frequently exhibit toxin residues, though rarely in violative amounts. Butter can be high.
    
5. Meat - Safest. Most meat contains no violative residues, according to the FDA, but contains low levels of detectable pesticides. Most frequent are pesticides applied directly to the animal. Other residues are from feed, soil, water, acid rain and air pollution.

   This ranking is from studying data in the FDA Total Diet Study and FDA compliance data on violative residues in our food supply. Each year 2.6 billion lbs. of pesticides are consumed in the United States. Approximately 90% are used in agriculture and 10% in households, offices, etc. This equals about 10 lbs. of chemicals per person and has all developed in the last 60 years."