This year, strawberries top the list because growers are planting strawberries to be eaten inexpensively year round and they are a short, seasonal treat. In order to have cheap strawberries year round, growers use lots of pesticides and poisonous gases. Some of these poisonous gases used to sterilize the fields were developed for chemical warfare, now banned by the Geneva Convention. And…they use a ton of them.
Out of the dirtiest strawberries sampled, the EWG (environmental working group) found 17 different pesticides and strawberry growers use a combination of 60 different pesticides. Most are benign but some are linked to cancer, reproductive damage, neurological problems, and hormone disruption. The EPA’s tolerance levels are too lenient and outdated to protect public health. As EWG’s analogy, it’s like setting the speed limit at 500 mph. No one can break the rules. Do your best, but if you’re able to avoid these top dirty dozens below, you’ll avoid the high concentration of pesticides. Plus, children are more susceptible to small doses of pesticides.
Here are the top 12 produce to buy organic if your budget allows it. They are the dirtiest in order (most amount of pesticide residues)
1. Strawberries
2. Apples
3. Nectarines
4. Peaches
5. Celery
6. Grapes
7. Cherries
8. Spinach
9. Tomatoes
10.Sweet Bell Peppers
11.Cherry Tomatoes
12.Cucumbers
On a positive note, here are the cleanest 15 produce:
1. Avocados
2. Sweet Corn
3. Pineapples
4. Cabbage
5. Sweet Peas
6. Onions
7. Asparagus
8. Mangoes
9. Papayas
10.Kiwi
11.Eggplant
12.Honeydew
13.Grapefruit
14.Cantaloupe
15.Cauliflower
I hope this was helpful. If you’re interested in more information and learning how to have a great relationship with yourself, food, exercise, and build great habits, then set up a free health consultation at www.HappyFoodHealth.com or (619) 876-2655. See if this is the right match for you. I do things very differently to make health a natural lifestyle and this is not for everyone.
~ Samantha Hua, Nutrition & Health Coach, San Diego, CA
