Did you know strawberries are the undisputed champions of… being contaminated with pesticides. In fact, for the last three years in a row, the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) has listed strawberries at the top of their list of the 12 most pesticide-contaminated produce. Not exactly an award our favorite berry should be proud of.
The EWG found that 70 percent of non-organic strawberries were contaminated with residues of at least one pesticide and 33 percent were contaminated with 10 pesticides or more. Some even clocked in at an astonishing 22 pesticide residues. Yikes!
The study found that the pesticide residues remained on the strawberries even after they were washed. Run from those non-organic pesticide bathed strawberries and grab the organic ones at the store or even better, grow some in your garden! Sure buying organic might cause you to pay a little bit more at the store, but it’s better than to pay for it with health problems.
The World Health Organization states “Highly hazardous pesticides may have acute and/or chronic toxic effects and pose a particular risk to children. Their widespread use has caused health problems and fatalities in many parts of the world, often as a result of occupational exposure and accidental or intentional poisonings.”
The full list of the EWG’s “Dirty Dozen” most pesticide-contaminated produce includes:
1. Strawberries
2. Spinach
3. Nectarines
4. Apples
5. Grapes
6. Peaches
7. Cherries
8. Pears
9. Tomatoes
10. Celery
11. Potatoes
12. Sweet Bell Peppers
If you plan on buying any of these veggies or fruits we’d highly recommend going organic. Now that you know which veggies and fruits to watch out for, let’s check out the EWG Clean Fifteen list of fruits & veggies low in pesticides. These fruits and vegetables are perfectly safe to buy non-organic.
The full list of the EWG’s “Clean Fifteen”:
1. Avocado
2. Sweet corn
3. Pineapples
4. Cabbages
5. Onions
6. Sweet peas (frozen)
7. Papayas
8. Asparagus
9. Mangoes
10. Eggplants
11. Honeydew melons
12. Kiwis
13. Cantaloupes
14. Cauliflower
15. Broccoli