But before you grate that peel, or drop citrus slices into your water...
There’s something you should know.
In 2020, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) purchased non-organic grapefruit, lemons, mandarins, and oranges from grocery stores across the U.S. The fruit was peeled, and the edible portion was tested by an independent, California-accredited laboratory.
The findings were alarming: two
fungicides—imazalil and thiabendazole—were detected, with imazalil present in about 90% of samples and thiabendazole in more than half.
These post-harvest chemicals are applied to citrus peels to prevent mold during shipping and storage. Both are considered hormone disruptors, and imazalil is listed under California’s
Proposition 65 as a chemical known to cause cancer.
And if these residues were present inside the peeled fruit, just imagine what could be lingering on the peel itself—along with synthetic waxes, other pesticides, and mold inhibitors not included in this study.
At Healing Gourmet, we believe that every ingredient in your kitchen should support your health, not compromise it.
That’s why we always recommend choosing organic produce whenever possible, and washing it thoroughly before zesting, peeling, or slicing.
This simple step can help reduce the amount of unwanted substances that could end up in your recipe.
Oranges and lemons are just one example. Many everyday kitchen tools, storage containers, and even dinnerware can be sources of unwanted chemical exposure.
That’s why we created Plate Poisons™—a free guide showing the most common culprits and safer alternatives.
P.S. We hope you’ve begun clearing your kitchen of hidden poisons and hazards. But here’s one many people overlook: the cleaner that touches your
counters every day.
Luckily, our friends at Truly Free have just released a new Lemon Verbena scent for their best-selling Everyday Cleaner—a safe, non-toxic formula made without synthetic fragrances or hidden chemicals.
Environmental Working Group. (2025). Citrus and fungicide testing results. Retrieved from www.ewg.org/foodnews/citrus.php
California OEHHA. (2011, May 20). Proposition 65 List – Imazalil.
At Healing Gourmet, we are strongly committed to protecting your privacy and providing a safe & high-quality online experience for all of our visitors. We understand that you care about how the
information you provide to us is used and shared. We have developed a Privacy Policy to inform you of our policies regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of information we receive from users of our website. Healing Gourmet operates the Website.
Our Privacy Policy, along with our Term & Conditions, governs your use of this site. By using website link, or by accepting the Terms of Use (via
opt-in, checkbox, pop-up, or clicking an email link confirming the same), you agree to be bound by our Terms & Conditions and our Privacy Policy.
If you have provided personal, billing, or other voluntarily provided information, you may access, review, and make changes to it via instructions found on the Website or by emailing us at our support email address. To manage your receipt of marketing
and non-transactional communications, you may unsubscribe by clicking the “unsubscribe” link located on the bottom of any marketing email. Emails related to the purchase or delivery of orders are provided automatically – Customers are not able to opt out of transactional emails. We will try to accommodate any requests related to the management of Personal Information in a timely manner. However, it is not always possible to completely remove or modify information in our databases (for example,
if we have a legal obligation to keep it for certain timeframes, for example). If you have any questions, simply reply to this email or visit our website to view our official policies.
You are receiving this message because you either purchased one of our top-selling health products or joined us from our website. Please know we are happy to have you as a devoted reader, but if you decide to, you can
change your email preferences at any time. Remember, we have plenty more recipes, cooking tips, and articles on our website.
The information provided by Healing Gourmet is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical consultation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health
providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on our website or through our communications. Healing Gourmet does not endorse or recommend any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the website. Reliance on any information provided by Healing Gourmet is solely at your own risk.
All content, concepts, phrases, subject lines and copy in this newsletter are the exclusive property of Health-e Enterprises, LLC. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, or modification for any purposes, including marketing, derivative works, or otherwise, is strictly prohibited. Legal action will be pursued against any infringement.
