Every year the Environmental Working Group (EWG) puts out their Dirty Dozen/Clean 15 list. The most recent one came out in April. If you only have a certain amount of money to spend at the grocery store, the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 can help you choose the produce you should prioritize buying organic from a health perspective. Forty-six of the most popular fruits and vegetables were washed and peeled just as you would treat them at home and then tested for pesticides. After washing more than 70% of non-organic fresh produce had residues of pesticides.
This is the most recent Dirty Dozen:
Strawberries, Spinach, Kale, collard, and mustard greens, Nectarines, Apples, Grapes, Bell and hot peppers, Cherries, Peaches, Pears, Celery, Tomatoes.
Here are the Clean 15:
Avocadoes, Sweet corn, Pineapples, Onions, Papaya, Sweet peas (frozen), Asparagus, Honeydew Melon, Kiwi, Cabbage, Mushrooms, Cantaloupes, Mangoes, Watermelon, Sweet Potatoes
Interestingly the EWG found samples of kale, collard and mustard greens as well as bell and hot peppers had the most variety of pesticides detected (103 and 101 respectively) while spinach samples had 1.8 times as much pesticide residue by weight as any other crop tested.
Do you use this information to help you decide which produce to always buy organic?
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Like many words today, I don’t think organic means what it was originally intended to mean. I do so enjoy learning the truth about what we eat. I think I’ll stick with my own veggies and fruits from my own gardens and trees this year again. 🙂 Thanks for sharing Ms. Ann. I wish you were nearer so we could share with you. Our Life Group at church shouldn’t have to purchase much produce this year.
That is the absolute best option J.D. I wish I was closer for many reasons! I have a small garden so I will be enjoying (hopefully)
plenty of my own veggies this summer as well.
I sure do use this. Scary what makes it into our food and water. Are you familiar with Zach Bush? He has a really interesting story and is doing really cool work.
It sure is scary. I am a big fan of Zach Bush!
Of course you are❤️
Thanks for keeping us updated, Ann.
They you Debbie!