Each year the Environmental Working Group releases The Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce, which contain two very important lists:
The Dirty Dozen & The Clean Fifteen.
The Dirty Dozen lists the top 12 foods most contaminated by pesticides. This year, strawberries, spinach, kale, nectarines and apples top the list.
Did you know that:
- Nearly 60 percent of kale samples sold in the U.S. tested positive for dacthal, a possible cancer-causing pesticide prohibited in Europe that can also cause harm to the lungs, liver, kidney and thyroid.
- 99% of strawberries have pesticide residues, and ONE strawberry can have up to 23 different pesticides on it including Carbendazim (a hormone disruptor) and Bifenthrin (a possible carcinogen)!?
- Diphenylamine is doused on conventional apples after harvest for storing, even though Diphenylamine is banned in Europe.
These are great reasons to buy organic produce--especially those items listed on the dirty dozen! If your food budget is limited but you want to reduce your toxic exposure, use the Clean 15 as a guide for when to buy conventional and save some $$.
To check out the EWG's 2019 complete lists, click here:
EWG's Dirty Dozen 2019 EWG's Clean Fifteen 2019