Organic: To be or not to be?
EWG ranks fruits and vegetables using data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which in 2013 (most recent data) found 165 different pesticides on fruit and vegetable samples. It’s important to know that pesticides remained on fruits and vegetables tested by USDA, even when they were washed and, in some cases, peeled.
A study at the University of Washington found that people who report they "often or always" buy organic produce had significantly less organophosphate insecticides in their urine samples, even though they reported eating 70 percent more servings of fruits and vegetables per day than adults reporting they "rarely or never" purchase organic produce (Curl 2015). Several long-term studies have indicated that organophosphate insecticides may impair children’s brain development.
So without further ado, here is EWG's current Dirty Dozen Plus: apples, celery, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, grapes, nectarines, peaches, potatoes, snap peas, spinach, strawberries, sweet bell peppers, plus hot peppers, and kale and collard greens.
And the Clean Fifteen: asparagus, avocados, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, eggplant, grapefruit, kiwi, mangoes, papayas, sweet corn, sweet peas (frozen), sweet potatoes.
So whenever possible, eat organic produce. But if you can’t for any reason, make sure to use these lists to pick and choose your best options.
EWG methodology: http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php
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