41. The Dirty Dozen

This is another FYI post... I carry a list of EWG's dirty dozen fruits and veggies to avoid because they have the highest pesticide load. Buying all organic fruits and veggies can be difficult to find and expensive, but if you just buy the top 12 on the list, you can avoid the majority of your pesticide exposure.

Environmental Working Group's list (go here for the complete list) of the top twelve fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide load is:

1. Peaches (worst)
2. Apples
3. Sweet Bell Peppers
4. Celery
5. Nectarines
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Lettuce
9. Grapes - Imported (i.e. not U.S.)
10. Pears
11. Spinach
12. Potatoes

Also, here's a good little article on "When buying organic pays (and doesn't)": http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/food/diet-nutrition/organic-products/organic-products-206/when-buying-organic-pays-and-doesnt/index.htm

DavidSuzuki.org has a slightly different list here that comes from ConsumersUnion.org but I couldn't find it there:

1. winter squash
2. wheat
3. strawberries
4. green beans
5. celery
6. apples
7. peaches
8. grapes
9. spinach
10. pears

~ Lynn

Copyright 2007-2010 Lynn Wyminga