Most of us visit the grocery store a few times a week. Each time, we are given a choice to buy conventional produce or organic. Should we buy organic? Is there really a difference or is it all just hype? And is it the same for each type of produce? Fortunately, there are groups that analyze this and answer the question for us. Each year the Environmental Working Group (EWG) reviews data collected by the US Department of Agriculture and the FDA to determine which conventionally grown fruits and vegetables contain the highest levels of pesticides after being harvested. This is subsequently published on a list called the dirty dozen.
What have they found? The 2023 report looked at 46,569 samples of 46 different types of vegetables and fruits. The produce was analyzed after being peeled or washed (simulating the normal prep that we would do before eating them). The EWG study found that despite all this peeling and cleaning, the produce was found to have traces of 251 different pesticides. Shockingly, some of the pesticides found have been banned by the FDA for a long time and yet are still making their way into our produce.
Why does this matter? Multiple peer-reviewed studies have found direct links between pesticides and a variety of health problems. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency has reported on the negative effects of pesticides to humans, including cancers, nervous system issues, hormone disruption, skin and eye problems, and a host of other health issues. In many cases, the negative impacts of pesticides build up over time and are found years later. While problematic for all, children are particularly susceptible to the harmful effects of pesticides.
“The threats pesticides pose to children’s health have been known since at least 1993 – 30 years ago – when the National Academies of Science published a landmark study warning of inadequate oversight. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents concerned about their children’s exposure to pesticides consult EWG’s Shopper’s Guide.”
EWG.COM
The Dirty Dozen
The dirty dozen is a list of fruits and vegetables found to contain the highest levels of pesticides when grown conventionally and should be purchased organic whenever possible. The list includes strawberries, spinach, peaches, pears, blueberries, nectarines, grapes, kale, bell peppers, green beans, apples and cherries.
The Clean 15
In addition to reporting on the produce with the most pesticides, the group also reports on ‘The Clean 15’ – a list of produce with the lowest levels of pesticides when grown conventionally. In fact, almost 65% of the produce on the ’Clean 15’ list generally have no detectable pesticides when sampled. Overall, avocados and corn were found to be the cleanest produce items, with less than 2% of the samples found to have pesticides. Other produce to make the list included pineapple, onions, honeydew melons, asparagus, carrots, kiwis, frozen sweet peas, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, mangoes, watermelon, cabbage and papayas.
If you are choosing between what to buy organic and what not to, try using these lists as a guide. You may want to take a screen shot with your phone and keep it close by for the next time you are in the produce section. Selecting organic for the foods on the ‘Dirty Dozen’ list and conventional for the foods on the ‘Clean 15’ is a great way to balance your family’s health and your budget. Once home, make sure to wash all produce in water using a produce brush on the fruits and vegetables that have a thicker skin. After you have finished cleaning your food it’s important that you don’t forget to wash any remaining pesticides off of your hands with warm water and soap!
Want to dive deeper into the research? Visit… EWG’s 2023 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce | Summary
Healthy Happy Eating!