Hello fellow foodies! I know as well as anyone that buying organic can be a costly affair. But, if you are in any way concerned about nutrition, health or sustainable foods, then organic is well worth the cost. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has compiled a list of produce containing the greatest amount of pesticide residues from conventional growing methods called the “Dirty Dozen.” It is recommended that the produce on this list be bought organic.
The EWG’s 2012 Dirty Dozen:
- Apples
- Celery
- Sweet Bell Peppers
- Peaches
- Strawberries
- Nectarines
- Grapes
- Spinach
- Lettuce
- Cucumbers
- Blueberries
- Potatoes
The EWG also compiled a list of produce lowest in pesticide residues called the “Clean 15.”
The EWG’s 2012 Clean 15:
- Onions
- Sweet Corn
- Pineapples
- Avocado
- Cabbage
- Sweet Peas
- Asparagus
- Mangoes
- Eggplant
- Kiwi
- Cantaloupe
- Sweet Potatoes
- Grape Fruit
- Watermelon
- Mushrooms
All this talk of pesticides may seem a bit scary, but there is no cause for alarm. Pesticide residue on produce is regulated by the EPA, and set at levels posing at most a “reasonable certainty of no harm.” By following these lists, buying organically-grown produce can become less of a burden and more cost-effective.
Source(s):
- Ewg.org/foodnews/summary
- Epa.gov/pesticides/health/human.htm
Photo Credit: En.paperblog.com
