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The "Dirty Dozen" Fruits and Vegetables Containing the Most Pesticides

Some three years ago, I warned you about the fruits and vegetables containing the highest amount of pesticides as determined by the Environmental Working Group. The EWG recently issued new lists of the worst fruits and vegetables at your grocery store as well as a "Cleanest 12" based on some 43,000 tests conducted by the USDA and FDA.

What's more, an analysis by the EWG estimated consumers could reduce their exposure to pesticides by almost 90 percent merely by avoiding foods on their "Dirty Dozen" list. A few members of this year's "Dirty Dozen" list:

  • Peaches
  • Apples
  • Sweet bell peppers
  • Celery
  • Strawberries
  • Spinach

Conversely, the "Cleanest 12" whole foods you can buy, according to the EWG, only expose you to less than two pesticides per day, a huge difference from the 15 pesticides you'd be exposed to daily on the "Dirty Dozen" list. Among the cleanest fruits and vegetables you can buy at your grocery store:

  • Onions
  • Avocado
  • Pineapple
  • Asparagus
  • Broccoli

To stay away from pesticides that do great harm to your health, I urge you to download the EWG's complete listings of the best and worst whole foods at their Web site today. And, when in doubt, always be on the lookout first for organically-grown fruits and vegetables.

Epicurious November 6, 2006

Environmental Working Group October 4, 2006





 
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Comment on This Article Community Comments (15)
 
 
Posted On Nov 19, 2006

Here are the rest of the 12 fruits and vegetables most and least treated with pesticides:     

In addition to those mentioned:

  1. Most treated: Cherries, Imported Grapes, Nectarines, Pears, Potatoes, Red Raspberries.
  2. Least treated: Bananas, Cauliflower, Sweet Corn, Kiwi, Mangoes, Papaya, Sweet Peas.

So if your produce budget doesn't allow you to buy all organic (or all the items are simply not available to you), you could divide your money between organic and conventional produce based on what is affordable, and what is most and least pesticide treated. Where I live organic bananas are only 10 cents more per lb. than conventional (low pesticide treated). Organic grapes on the other hand, are twice the price (high pesticide usage). Go figure. (I know grapes are harder to grow successfully without pesticides and fungicides.)


 
Laserman
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 6/2006
Laserman  
 
 
 
Posted On Nov 16, 2006
I would simply buy organic and save the hassle of wondering if it is safe. 

 
Tixona
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 6/2006
Tixona  
Replied

saramarie
Novice User Novice User Joined On 12/2006
saramarie  
 
Posted On Dec 26, 2006
Amen to that!!  I have fibromyalgia, and natural foods are what are best for me - getting rid of the toxins, etc. is so helpful. 

Mangosteen juice also helps to rid your body of the poisins, and I have found it to help me, my friends, and my family.  The studies showing what it does are available at www.mangosteenexperiences.com and www.saramarie.discovermangosteen.com.  Even though I own other businesses and keep quite busy with them, I have become a distibutor because I believe so much in what it has done for me and members of my family. 

SaraMarie


 
 
 
Posted On Nov 21, 2006

Previously, Dr. Mercola has advised against eating grapes because of they're high in sugars and because they're sprayed with pesticides.  What about the new product "Purple Defense"?  Is it organic? 


 
mparisoe
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 6/2006
mparisoe  
Replied

Laserman
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 6/2006
Laserman  
 
Posted On Nov 21, 2006

Grapes are high in sugar. They also provide lots of health benefits. I believe moderation is key, the same as consuming organic chocolate (dark). Organic grapes are available (expensive), but you don't need a lot, and the fruit is always preferable to the juice (because of the pulp), as I believe it slows the effect on blood sugar.

Or you could make wine, allowing the yeast to convert the sugars into alcohol, and then you would have the benefits of the grape, without the sugar, plus whatever hazards/benefits might come with the alcohol. But that's a whole other debate.



friendly curmudgeon
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 11/2006
friendly curmudgeon  
 
Posted On Nov 28, 2006
mparisoe -- I don't see anything on the "Purple Defense" bottle indicating that it is organic, but note that is comes from grapeseed, as opposed to the more vulnerable (to pesticides) grape skin or fruit itself.

Ironic note on organics and pesticides/herbicides:  I have many neighbors who shop at Whole Foods for organic produce yet also pay ChemLawn (and like-minded companies) to "treat" their lawn so they can keep up with the Joneses in the "pretty green lawn" department.  And yes, or neighborhood drinks well water.

Irony with those grapes? 





 
 
 
Posted On Nov 28, 2006

We use one of the veggie washes - you can feel the difference on the skin of apples and others foods. Does this help some? I have also seen in The Sharper Image store a device that adds ozone to tap water and gives it anti-bacterial properties and is supposed to clean off pesticide residue.  Any remarks?

Let me put in a super big plug for the local farmers markets! Great quality, fair prices and mostly organinc or at least pesticide free.


 
vickie_3
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 11/2006
vickie_3  
 
 
 
Posted On Nov 28, 2006

hI All;

Okay, so we know that we should eat only organic produce but, in my area the selection of organic produce is very limited. The last trip to the store and all that was available were; kiwis and green onions. Kiwis are already mentioned as one of the least dangerous.

Anyone know of any major produce suppliers that will be, in the not too distant future, switching to organic exclusively or at least featuring a line of organic produce?

The nearest food coop is 45 miles away. The nearest family owned produce stand is 25 miles away, seasonly operated and has most of its produce trucked in and does not guarantee anything to be organic. In fact their crops are heavily sprayed.

Knowing what is healthy and safe is far away from the reality of actually being able to obtain it.


 
truthseeker
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 11/2006
truthseeker  
 
 
 
 
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