Research conducted showed that the 20,000 cancer cases could be prevented yearly if half the U.S. population increased its fruit and vegetable consumption by one serving each per day. This number is contrasted with an upper-bound estimate of concomitant cancer cases that might be attributed to the intake of pesticide residues arising from the same additional fruit and vegetable consumption. The cancer prevention estimates were made using a published meta-analysis of nutritional epidemiology studies. The cancer risks were estimated using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency methods, cancer potency estimates from rodent bioassays, and pesticide residue sampling data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The resulting estimates were approximately 20,000 cancer cases per year could be prevented by increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, while up to 10 cancer cases per year could be caused by the added pesticide consumption. The overwhelming difference between benefit and risk estimates sheds light that consumers should not be concerned about cancer risks from consuming conventionally grown fruits and vegetables