The Environmental Working Group has put out an updated list of fruits and vegetables ranked according to their pesticide contamination. The report, put out annually, analyzes government data on 53 fruits and vegetables. New to the top of the list this year is apples, moved up from number four. Ninety-two percent of apples tested contained two or more pesticides.
EWG recommends choosing organic when buying the top twelve, or the ‘dirty dozen.’ This year, the dirty dozen include:
- Apples
- Celery
- Strawberries
- Peaches
- Spinach
- Nectarines
- Grapes
- Sweet bell peppers
- Potatoes
- Blueberries
- Lettuce
- Kale/collard greens
The ‘Clean 15,’ on the other hand, are the 15 fruits and vegetables with the lowest amounts of pesticides:
- Onions
- Corn
- Pineapples
- Avocado
- Asparagus
- Sweet peas
- Mangoes
- Eggplant
- Cantaloupe
- Kiwi
- Cabbage
- Watermelon
- Sweet potatoes
- Grapefruit
- Mushrooms
This week, make some adjustments to the way you buy fruits and vegetables. Choose organic when buying the dirty dozen to reduce your exposure to pesticides.