Shocking Facts About Pesticides on Vegetables
June 20, 2011, By Kurt D. Moore 0 comments
Beware the Dirty Dozen. That's the news from the Environmental Working Group (EWG), which each year releases its "Shopper's Guide to Pesticides," which lists vegetables and fruits according to the risk of pesticides. The list details the most and least contaminated produce.
If you eat non-organic versions of the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables, you are exposed to an average of 10 pesticides a day, EWG estimates. By eating fresh produce from the 15 least contaminated fruits and pesticides, you will consume fewer than two pesticides a day.
The idea behind the study is to help consumers buy organic where it counts most, especially when dealing with produce on the Dirty Dozen list. The group made the list to help consumers make the healthiest choices given their circumstances, such as if organics are accessible or affordable.
The following is the updated list of the Dirty Dozen, starting at the very worst or most contaminated:
- Celery
- Peaches
- Strawberries
- Apples
- Blueberries (domestic)
- Nectarines
- Sweet bell peppers
- Spinach
- Cherries
- Kale/collard greens
- Potatoes
- Grapes (imported)
Of course, this doesn't mean you shouldn't eat any of the items on this list; EWG always recommends eating fruits and vegetables, even conventionally grown, over processed foods and other less healthy alternatives. But when you're shopping for fruits and veggies, it pays to buy organic varieties whenever possible.
