Health
Prune health benefits may include:
- digestive health
- anemia treatment and prevention
- boosted energy
- controlled overactive bladder
- hemorrhoid prevention
- reduced appetite
- regulate bowels and bladder
- hydration
- bone health
- heart rhythm
- lowered blood pressure and cholesterol
- lowered risk of colon cancer, nerve impulses and muscle contractions, organ health, protect against chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema, a chronic lung disease that leads to trouble breathing, regulate blood pressure
- muscle building
- skin health
- weight loss
Prune health side effects may include:
- digestive upset and weight gain (if consumed excessively)
Prunes are…
- Acidic 6.0 pH level once digested
- Gluten Free
- Not a common Food Allergen
Environment
Water footprint: low, it takes 962 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of fruits / 115 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of fruits
Carbon footprint: low, 0.50 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of prunes, a car driving equivalent of 1.25 miles or 2 kilometers
Destruction: low, prune production is relatively sustainable, there is no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc.
Prunes are…
- Sustainable
Get ethical insight before you buy.
Animals
Kills: none, prune production does not require any animals to be killed
Harms: none, prune production does not require any animals to be used
Indirectly kills or harms: none, no animals are indirectly killed or harmed from prune production as long as toxic chemicals have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat
Prunes are…
- Vegan
- Harmful to wildlife and ecosystems unless organic
Laborers
Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible
Living conditions: varies, laborers are often exploited, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place, even if worker protection exists, employer violations may go unreported, refugees and migrant workers are especially vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment, fearing consequences of job loss or deportation
Wages: varies, generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits
Prunes…
- May involve worker exploitation, laborer issues, human rights concerns
Where do most prunes come from?
The United States is the world’s leading prune producer (most of which come from California) followed by Chile. The world’s top prune exporting country is USA, followed by Chile, France, Uzbekistan, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Netherlands, Turkey and UK.
Are prunes nutritious?
Yes! Prunes are high in minerals such as manganese, copper, and magnesium, vitamin K and vitamin A.
prunes are acidic.
Are prunes alkaline or acidic? Prunes are acidic. What is the pH level of prunes? Prunes have a 6.0 pH level once digested. Dried fruits are typically acidic.
When you eat food, it is broken down to an ash residue that can be neutral, acidic or alkaline. Minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, silver, copper and iron produce an alkaline ash; whereas sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine and iodine, which are found in meat, coffee, dairy and alcohol, leave an acid ash.
Going alkaline easier than ever with this: Acidic and Alkaline Foods List
prunes are gluten free.
Are prunes gluten free? Yes, prunes are gluten free. Prunes do not contain gluten. Prunes is a type of dried fruit, therefore making it a naturally gluten free food.
While celiac disease may not be as rampant as many marketing trends lead us to believe, you may have a gluten sensitivity…
Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:
- recurring abdominal pain
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- tingling
- numbness in hands and feet
- chronic fatigue
- joint pain
- unexplained infertility
- low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.
Going gluten-free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
prunes are not a common food allergen.
Are prunes a common food allergen? No, prunes are not a common food allergen. Some people may experience allergic reactions to prunes but it is relatively rare by comparison.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
Severe food allergies can be life threatening. Following ingestion of a food allergen, a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Persons may still be allergic to and have serious reactions to foods other than the eight foods identified by the law.
Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List
prunes likely have a low water footprint.
Do prunes have a high or low water footprint? Prunes likely have a relatively low water footprint compared to other foods.
What is the water footprint of prunes? It takes 962 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of fruits / 115 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of fruits.
Did you know that water is a finite, non-renewable resource? Once it’s gone, it’s gone!
How much water does it take to produce an apple? A serving of rice? A steak dinner?
We need to be aware of something referred to as a “water footprint”. That is, the amount of fresh water utilized in the production or supply of goods we consume. As it turns out it takes significantly more water to yield foods that come from animals than foods that come from plants. Imagine how much water a cow needs to consume to generate a piece of beef. Not only how much water a single cow drinks, rather all the water that went into producing the crops that the cow ate.
Find out how much water your food consumes with this: Water Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
prunes have a low carbon footprint.
Do prunes have a high or low carbon footprint? Prunes have a relatively low carbon footprint compared to other foods.
What is the carbon footprint of prunes? It takes around 0.50 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of prunes, a car driving equivalent of 1.25 miles or 2 kilometers.
Food not only has a water footprint but also a carbon footprint, known as CO2e, which stands for carbon dioxide equivalent. Since carbon measurements are a bit more difficult to comprehend, it is common to equate CO2e to the distance which a car drives in miles or kilometers.
When calculating product emissions, some factors that may be included are… farm equipment, animal feed production, hothouses (greenhouses), food processing, packaging, transport, refrigeration, freezing, package waste, and more.
But that’s not all!
It’s best to keep the following in mind when grocery shopping:
- shopping locally reduces transportation emissions
- food without packaging reduces waste as well as the carbon footprint
- refrigerated and frozen foods increase carbon emissions
- seasonal foods reduce carbon emissions from hothouses (greenhouses)
- growing plant-based foods at home is the most environmentally sustainable method with zero carbon footprint
Find out how much carbon your food emits with this: Carbon Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
prunes are sustainable.
Overall, are prunes eco friendly? Are prunes sustainable?
Prune production is relatively sustainable since there is no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used. Be sure to buy non GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc. when using regenerative practices.
A 2018 Oxford University study – which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet – found that ‘avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earth’ as animal farming provides just 18% of calories but takes up 83% of our farmland.
Consuming animal products and byproducts is not environmentally friendly and is one of the worst things for the Earth. Not only is meat production wasteful, it causes enormous amounts of pollution. The industry is one of the biggest causes of climate change.
prunes are vegan.
Are prunes vegan? Yes, prunes are vegan. Prunes are dried plums, a fruit, and not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food.
Animals of factory farming are suffering. They live in horrific conditions that often include confinement, physical abuse and unnatural environments…so much so that they need to receive antibiotics to keep from getting ill or spreading disease. Growth hormones allow all kinds of animals to become fatter faster and live short lives.
Because we cannot see for ourselves how these animals live and what they endure does not mean it isn’t happening. The meat, poultry and dairy industries do everything they can to distance us from knowing how our food comes to be in order to keep us in the dark about what we support each time we buy animal derived products and byproducts.
Go vegan for animals!
It’s the best way to help animals and it’s not as difficult as you may think. Speak for animals with your actions, for they cannot speak at all.
Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non-Vegan Foods List
prunes may or may not have labor issues.
Are prunes a product with labor concerns?
At this time there are no major concerns with prune production but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening! It’s important to stay aware of human rights concerns and worker exploitation that may come with specific brands.
Did you know the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? The labor involved behind each and every product cannot go unrecognized.
Some known problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can face harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks. Consequently, laborers can face nausea, dizziness, heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke -the leading cause of farmworker death!
Fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards.
We can improve people’s lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade.
Conclusion
Prune pros include:
- numerous health benefits
- sustainable
- vegan
- alkaline
- gluten free
- not a common food allergen
- low carbon footprint
- low water footprint
Prune cons include:
- digestive upset and weight gain (if consumed excessively)
- possible laborer exploitation (as with most foods)
- pesticide ingestion and contamination if not organic (as with most produce)
Sources:
Dried plums (prunes) Reports – California – USDA NASS
Ag Alert: competition mounts for world prune market
Plums, dried (prunes), uncooked – FoodData Central
Dried Prunes Grades & Standards – Agricultural Marketing
Adriane Marie
As an educator, author and conscious consumer advocate, I study and organize ethical info for you to quickly see how our purchases impact animals, people and the planet. I hope you find this HEALabel knowledge useful and can apply it to your life for personal and societal improvement and empowerment.Get ethical insight before you buy.