Spinach and Berries Make The ‘Dirty Dozen’ List of Produce With Most Pesticides
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Government lab tests have found pesticides in a wide range of nonorganic produce, including nearly all nonorganic strawberries, spinach, grapes, peaches, and leafy greens like kale, according to a new report.
Overall, 95 percent of the samples of these 12 nonorganic fruits and vegetables contained detectable levels of pesticides, according to the report. This year, kale, collards, and mustard greens had the most pesticide residue, with 103 individual chemicals detected. Hot peppers were next on the list, with 101 chemicals.
Which Fruit and Vegetables Are on the ‘Dirty Dozen’ This Year?
The following produce had the highest levels of pesticides per an analysis by the EWG of government testing (not listed in any particular order):
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Kale, collards, and mustard greens
- Grapes
- Peaches
- Pears
- Nectarines
- Apples
- Bell and hot peppers
- Cherries
- Blueberries
- Green beans
What Pesticides Are Found in the ‘Dirty Dozen’?
Four of the five most frequently detected chemicals are fungicides, according to the EWG report. Two of these fungicides, fludioxonil and pyrimethanil, had the highest concentrations of any pesticides found in the dozen most contaminated foods. Both of these fungicides are what’s known as endocrine disruptors, because they interfere with key hormone systems in the body that are responsible for many aspects of growth and reproduction.
One reason fungicides may appear so often on nonorganic fruits and vegetables is because they’re applied while plants are growing to prevent or remove fungus like mildew, and they’re also applied after harvest to keep produce mold-free in transit to stores, according to EWG.
Produce gets peeled or scrubbed and washed before the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) tests it for pesticides. Testing still found evidence of 254 different pesticides on fruits and vegetables, including 209 different pesticides on produce from the “Dirty Dozen” list, according to EWG.
Which Fruits and Vegetables Are in the ‘Clean Fifteen’ This Year?
The EWG also identified a “Clean Fifteen” list of nonorganic produce that had little or no pesticides detected in lab tests. These include (in no particular order):
- Avocados
- Sweet corn
- Pineapple
- Onions
- Papaya
- Frozen peas
- Asparagus
- Honeydew melon
- Kiwi
- Cabbage
- Watermelon
- Mushrooms
- Mangoes
- Sweet potatoes
- Carrots
Almost 65 percent of the samples for these foods had no pesticides detected at all, according to the EWG.
You Should Still Eat Plenty of Fruits and Vegetables, Even if You Can’t Buy Organic
There are ways to reduce your exposure to pesticides even when you can’t buy organic produce, which tends to be more expensive than nonorganic alternatives, says Luz Claudio, PhD, a professor of environmental medicine and public health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.
For starters, you can feel more confident buying nonorganic fruits and vegetables on the “Clean Fifteen” shopping list, and reserving your budget for organic produce to buy items on the “Dirty Dozen” list.
In addition, washing produce vigorously with water and using a baking soda or vinegar solution can help to remove some pesticide residue, Dr. Claudio advises. Peeling produce can also decrease chemical exposure, although this can also strip away some key nutrients.
At the end of the day, the benefits of eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables outweigh the risks of pesticide exposure from certain nonorganic produce, says Samantha Heller, RD, a clinical dietician in New York City.
“All fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and beans are healthy foods whether they are organic or not,” Heller says.
“Adopting a more plant-based dietary lifestyle is healthy for the individual and the planet,” Heller adds. “We do not want to scare people away from eating perfectly healthy foods even if they are not organic.”
Study Highlights the Need to Advocate for Safer Agribusiness Practices
While the EWG shopping guide can help people reduce their exposure to pesticides in foods, especially if they can’t afford to buy all organic produce, it doesn’t address the underlying agricultural and business practices that lead to pesticide use in the first place, Claudio says.
She adds, “It is equally important to advocate for and adopt safer agricultural practices that reduce exposures to farmworkers, ecosystems, wildlife, and beneficial insects, and ultimately helps to reduce some of the collateral damage being caused by excessive use of synthetic chemicals and other potentially harmful agribusiness farming practices.”
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