The Environment Working Group
The Environment Working Group (EWG) is a not-for-profit environmental research organization that releases a list of the dirty dozen each year – a list of the fruits and vegetables that are the most contaminated with pesticide residue. By eating some of the most contaminated fruits and vegetables, you and your children are exposed to about 10 different pesticides a day, according to EWG. Fortunately, by avoiding the most-contaminated produce out there and concentrating on the least contaminated, you can reduce your exposure to pesticides by almost 80 percent and be exposed to less than two pesticides per day, EWG says.Here is a list of the most contaminated:
- Apples
- Celery
- Strawberries
- Peaches
- Spinach
- Nectarines - imported
- Grapes - imported
- Sweet bell peppers
- Potatoes
- Blueberries - domestic
- Lettuce
- Kale/ collard greens
Here is a list of the least contaminated:
- Onions
- Sweet corn
- Pineapples
- Avocado
- Asparagus
- Sweet peas
- Mangos
- Eggplant
- Cantaloupe - domestic
- Kiwi
- Cabbage
- Watermelon
- Sweet potatoes
- Grapefruit
- Mushrooms
The simplest way to ensure your produce is not contaminated with pesticides is to buy organic. By definition, organic produce must "abstain from the application or prohibited materials (including synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and sewage sludge) for three years prior to certification and then continually throughout their organic license."