Final answer:
It is false that pesticide residues on food or animal products are illegal, as governments regulate and permit certain levels. Organic foods must adhere to USDA criteria, excluding most synthetic pesticides, and the 'Dirty Dozen' list has raised demand for organic products.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that pesticide residues found on food or animal products are not legal is false. In reality, governments set regulations that allow for certain levels of pesticide residues to be present on food and animal products. These permissible levels are determined based on what is considered to be safe for human consumption.
In the United States, for foods to be labeled as organic, they must conform to USDA regulations, which typically prohibit the use of most synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. However, this does not suggest that organic foods are entirely free of pesticides; rather, the pesticides used must meet certain criteria for organic farming.
Pesticides can have adverse effects on human health and the ecosystem, with concerns specifically about their toxicity to bees and the role pesticides play in the decline of bee populations. Due to these health concerns and environmental impacts, there has been a growing demand for organic produce, as evidenced by the Environmental Working Group's "Dirty Dozen" list that highlights fruits and vegetables with high levels of pesticide residues. The awareness has led to increased demand and higher market prices for organic options like strawberries.