Baking Soda is Good for You—But It Can’t Turn Non-Organic into Organic

Insight No. 7

“True organic comes from how we grow, not just how we wash.”

Author: Mani Skaria, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, Texas A&M–Kingsville
President & CEO, US Citrus

Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is one of the most versatile and safe household products. It helps in cooking, personal health, and even plant care. But despite its many benefits, there’s a growing wave of misinformation online that needs careful correction.

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The Claim

Some videos and articles suggest:
“You don’t need to buy organic food. Just wash your fruits and vegetables in baking soda, and all the pesticides and herbicides will be removed. That makes them as good as organic.”

At first glance, this may sound comforting. But as someone who has spent more than four decades as a scientist, professor, and grower, I can assure you this is a half-truth at best, and dangerously misleading at worst.

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The Truth

• Yes, baking soda washes can reduce some surface residues. Research has shown it can help break down certain pesticide residues more effectively than water alone.
• No, it cannot erase systemic chemicals. Many pesticides move inside the plant tissue; no wash can remove them.
• And absolutely no, it cannot make conventional produce “organic.”
  Organic farming is a system of practices—from soil management to pest control—rooted in prevention, biodiversity, and sustainability. Washing conventional produce does not change the way it was grown.

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Why This Matters

Organic food is about more than just chemical residues. It’s about:

• How the soil is cared for
• How biodiversity is protected
• How farmers reduce long-term risks to human health and the environment

As someone who has served in state and federal advisory roles and now runs a farm using organic methods, I believe we must keep the public conversation grounded in science, not shortcuts.

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The Takeaway

Baking soda is good for you—it’s safe, useful, and beneficial in many ways. But it is not a magic eraser that can turn non-organic food into organic. True organic food comes from how it is grown, not how it is washed.

MYTH	FACT
“Washing fruits and vegetables in baking soda removes all pesticides and herbicides.”	Baking soda can help remove some surface residues, but it cannot eliminate chemicals absorbed inside plant tissues.
“If you wash conventional produce with baking soda, it becomes organic.”	Organic status is based on farming practices—soil health, biodiversity, and no synthetic inputs—not on post-harvest washing.
“Baking soda is a replacement for buying organic food.”	Baking soda is useful for cleaning produce, but it is not a substitute for the benefits of organically grown food.
“Baking soda makes food perfectly safe, no matter how it was grown.”	Food safety depends on how crops are grown, handled, and monitored. Baking soda cannot undo systemic chemical use or poor farming practices.
“All information online about baking soda and food is true.”	Unfortunately, misinformation spreads quickly. Always check with trusted university extension services, peer-reviewed research, or agricultural experts.