The Environmental Working Group released its annual "Dirty Dozen" list today. The list includes the top twelve veggies and fruits found to have the highest amount of pesticide residue, including strawberries, spinach, and kale. The residue found was still below safety guidelines, and the health benefits of eating produce outweigh the risks. Every year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) publishes a list of the "Dirty Dozen," or the fruits and vegetables the nonprofit claims have the highest amount of pesticides when grown conventionally versus organically. The EWG has compiled the list annually since 2004 based on internal data that's not peer-reviewed. Using 40,900 samples for 47 different types of produce, the EWG found these twelve had the most pesticide residue: The 2019 Dirty Dozen Foods List Strawberries Spinach Kale Nectarines Apples Grapes Peaches Cherries Pears Tomatoes Celery Potatoes Strawberries rank number one for the fourth year in a row, and the rest of the list looks similar to years past with one exception: Kale made the top 12 for the first time in a decade. As a Registered Dietitian (R.D. ), my philosophy on veggies and fruit of all types is that they’re a little gift from nature to us. In fact, I often say (and write!) that more is more when it comes to how often you should eat them. That’s because countless peer-reviewed studies have linked these powerhouses with benefits for health, weight management, and long-term chronic disease risk. And while the EWG ultimately agrees with that statement, I always get a little bit nervous when the list is published each year, simply because it often appears without context. There’s no validated method for determining our actual exposure to pesticides through veggies and fruit. While they’re washed and peeled before testing, the actual intake and risk of consuming harmful residue isn’t assessed. For example, kale reappearing on the list will likely make headlines, despite the lack of data on whether or not eating high amounts of kale can actually harm to you. Most research suggests the exact opposite, in fact. Kale is linked to reducing your risk of chronic disease and vision loss, lowering blood pressure, and improving bone health, FWIW. The other thing missing from the discussion surrounding the Dirty Dozen is that organic pesticides may come with similar concerns (yes, organic farms use third-party validated pesticides!). We still can’t say with certainty that organic produce provides any more or less risks than conventionally grown ones. IMO: The biggest problem is that 50% of Americans don’t eat enough fiber, nor do we consume recommended amounts of potassium, calcium, magnesium, minerals that are found in — you guessed it — vegetables and fruit. What’s worse? Less than 10% of us are actually meeting our needs for recommended servings of vegetables and fruit. When we demonize a specific food (or 12 foods) that, on the whole, is beneficial for health, we’re laying the groundwork for avoiding veggies and fruit — a trend that's taken off with diets like keto. So regardless of whether or not you buy organic produce, here are two things we should all know about produce: Consider eating more. Period. Simply choose more veggies and fruit at meals or snacks and you’re already on the right track to better health. They displace other, more processed food on your plate that may not be as nutritious. Think about whole foods vs. fresh foods: Whole describes the best form in which to eat fiber-filled fruit and veggies: fruit instead of fruit juice, vegetables instead of veggie chips, baked potatoes instead of fried ones … you get the point. It'll help you cut back on saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar. This can include frozen and canned produce, so fresh isn't the only way to go. The 2019 Clean Fifteen Foods List enviromantic Getty Images If you're concerned about pesticides, the EWG also publishes a list of the "Clean 15," a.k.a. the produce from conventional growers that generally had less residue in the group's tests. This year they are: Avocados Sweet corn Pineapples Frozen sweet peas Onions Papayas Eggplants Asparagus Kiwis Cabbages Cauliflower Cantaloupes Broccoli Mushrooms Honeydew melons The Bottom Line Ultimately, even the EWG states that we should all eat more produce and the benefits outweigh the risks when it comes to fruits and vegetables Since this is one of the very few hard-and-fast rules in nutrition science to-date, that’s a recommendation we can all get behind! Jaclyn London, MS, RD, CDN A registered dietitian with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University and a Master of Science degree in Clinical Nutrition from New York University, Jaclyn “Jackie” London handled all of Good Housekeeping’s nutrition-related content, testing, and evaluation from 2014 to 2019. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io<doc-sep>If you're trying to eat healthy but save money, a good rule of thumb has been to splurge only on organic produce for fruits and veggies that notoriously contain large amounts of pesticides. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) makes this easier by releasing a list every year called the "Dirty Dozen," which names the 12 pieces of produce that contain the most pesticides. Stick to EWG's "Clean 15" list for everything that's OK to buy nonorganic. The Dirty Dozen list for 2019 contains many of the same items as in 2018, with one notable exception: kale. The dark, leafy superfood is a staple for healthy eaters, finding its way into smoothies, salads, and sides. In 2018, it didn't even make the list. But in 2019, it was listed as the number three dirtiest piece of produce. Other fruits and veggies that made the Dirty Dozen list include strawberries (number one! ), potatoes, apples, and celery. So if you're making your own DIY celery juice, be sure to buy organic. But the Clean 15 list has good news for all you avocado- and cauliflower-lovers out there. Those health food staples are considered some of the cleanest produce available, along with onions, pineapples, and asparagus. That doesn't mean you shouldn't wash your produce — who knows how many people have squeezed your avocado (gross! ), so it's best to run everything under water before chowing down. For a complete itemization of the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15, check out the lists below. And for the full report, visit ewg.org/foodnews. EWG Dirty Dozen List For 2019 Strawberries Spinach Kale Nectarines Apples Grapes Peaches Cherries Pears Tomatoes Celery Potatoes Bonus: hot peppers EWG Clean 15 List For 2019<doc-sep>Send this page to someone via email A new report says pesticide residue is on most of your favourite fruits and vegetables — even after they’re washed — but health experts say there’s nothing to be worried about. According to the Environmental Working Group’s 2019 “Dirty Dozen” list — a report that tests pesticide residue levels on produce — strawberries have the highest levels of pesticides, followed by spinach and kale. “We were surprised that more than 92 per cent of kale samples had two or more pesticide residues detected, and some samples contained as many as 18 different residues,” Dr. Olga Naidenko, EWG’s senior science advisor for children’s environmental health, told Global News. The report, released on Wednesday, used data from the United States Department of Agriculture to analyze which fruits and veggies are the most and least contaminated. This is the first time kale has appeared on the “dirty” list since 2009 as it hasn’t been included in USDA’s produce tests in recent years. Story continues below advertisement Naidenko said the produce samples were tested for pesticides after they were cleaned. READ MORE: Rates of colon cancer have doubled among young people, and doctors still don’t know why “This means the produce has been thoroughly washed and, when applicable, peeled,” Naidenko said. “After these preparations, pesticide residues are still detected on many of the fruits and veggies.” Other fruit that was listed as having higher levels of pesticide residue include nectarines, apples, grapes and peaches, ranked fourth to seventh, respectively. (Full list here.) Food that EWG ranked on their “Clean 15” list of lower-residue foods include avocados, sweet corn, pineapples, frozen sweet peas, onions and papayas. Are pesticides really that harmful for you? Despite the report, Erin MacGregor, a Toronto-based registered dietitian and co-founder of How to Eat, says that Canadians should not be worried about pesticide residue on their foods. WATCH BELOW: Does Canada’s new food guide reflect the needs of all Canadians? 3:43 Does Canada’s new food guide reflect the needs of all Canadians? Does Canada’s new food guide reflect the needs of all Canadians? – Jan 23, 2019 “A list like the Dirty Dozen makes it seems like we have something to be concerned about, when we don’t necessarily have anything to be concerned about at all,” MacGregor said to Global News. Story continues below advertisement “We actually have a very stringent regulatory system in Canada, which states there’s a very conservative amount of pesticide residue allowed to be on fruit and vegetables that Canadians buy in the grocery store.” MacGregor says this means produce has to pass government safety standards, which determine how potentially harmful a pesticide may be. “[Regulators] look at what level of residue would cause harm — if we were to ingest it — and then they set a residue limit that falls far, far below that,” she explained. READ MORE: Parents, vaping near children is just as dangerous as smoking: study Pierre Petelle, the president and CEO of CropLife Canada, says that pesticides are a necessary part of farming. He says fruits — especially smaller ones like strawberries — are susceptible to a number of insect infestations and diseases that makes them unusable. “If you rely on [only] nature to grow crops, you would consistently waste endless amounts of food,” he told Global News. “We compete with lots of different organisms and insects for the same crops, and so farmers need to protect them. It’s a simple as that. [Farmers] try to make sure they only use [pesticides] when and where they need them, but they’re no doubt an essential part of fruit and vegetable production.” Story continues below advertisement Is organic better for you? One of the recommendations made by EWG is that consumers buy organic versions of produce found on their Dirty Dozen list whenever possible. WATCH BELOW: Affordability is one of several factors stopping some Canadians in following latest Food Guide 3:40 Affordability is one of several factors stopping some Canadians in following latest Food Guide Affordability is one of several factors stopping some Canadians in following latest Food Guide – Mar 14, 2019 “When organic versions are unavailable or not affordable, EWG advises consumers to continue eating fresh produce, even if conventionally grown,” they said in the report’s press release. While some people prefer eating organic fruits and veg, MacGregor says they’re not always free of pesticide. “Pesticides are allowed to be used in organically grown produce as well; they simply cannot be synthetic [pesticides], they have to be naturally-derived,” she said. Story continues below advertisement Washing your food What consumers should do if they’re concerned with pesticide residue is thoroughly wash produce under cool tap water, MacGregor says. READ MORE: Infection during pregnancy increases your baby’s risk of autism, but not by much: study Washing is also an important step in preventing food poisoning as bacteria can live on the skin of fruits and vegetables. In December, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a report that found more than 17 per cent of avocados had listeria monocytogenes on the skin. Even though you would never eat an avocado’s skin, the FDA noted this foodborne pathogen can be transferred by a knife. Other produce, like lettuce and tomatoes, should always be washed, too. Even skinned fruits like melons and bananas should be cleaned before eating. “Melons, in particular, are an extreme example because their flesh is the best growth medium for salmonella,” Keith Warriner, a professor of food science at the University of Guelph, previously told Global News. WATCH BELOW: UBC study says fruit and veggie consumption is down 1:45 UBC study says fruit and veggie consumption is down UBC study says fruit and veggie consumption is down – Mar 1, 2019 Bottom line It’s important for Canadians to eat fruit and vegetables daily as part of a balanced diet. Produce offers nutritional benefits, including a variety of vitamins and minerals, that are vital to a healthy lifestyle. Story continues below advertisement<doc-sep>Each year, the Environmental Working Group releases its "Dirty Dozen," a list of the fruits and vegetables you usually buy that are laden with the most pesticides. This year's edition is no less depressing than last year's (nice to see you again, strawberries), but it's important nonetheless. The report explains: Overall, the USDA found 225 different pesticides and pesticide breakdown products on popular fruits and vegetables Americans eat every day. Before testing, all produce was washed and peeled, just as people would prepare food for themselves, which shows that simple washing does not remove all pesticides. The EWG seemed most perturbed by the presence of the third-highest food on their list: kale. More than "92 percent of kale samples had two or more pesticide residues detected," and, according to the study, a single sample of the same kale could yield as many as 18 kinds of residue. So, uh, without further ado, here's 2019's Dirty Dozen. Strawberries Spinach Kale Nectarines Apples Grapes Peaches Cherries Pears Tomatoes Celery Potatoes Conversely, the organization releases a "Clean Fifteen," which is, as you might imagine, the 15 kinds of produce they found to have "few, if any" bacteria. This year's list is... Avocados Sweet corn Pineapples Cabbages Onions Sweet peas (frozen) Papayas Asparagus Mangoes Eggplants Honeydew melons Kiwis Cantaloupes Cauliflower Broccoli You can read more about the 2019 findings from the EWG here. This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Tess Koman Digital Director Tess Koman covers breaking (food) news, opinion pieces, and features on larger happenings in the food world. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io<doc-sep>
Each year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) publishes its Dirty Dozen list, which ranks the 12 pieces of produce that contain the highest amounts of pesticide residues. This year, one of the dirtiest fruits and vegetables turns out to be kale, occupying the third spot on the EWG’s list of most contaminated. Strawberries top the list, followed by spinach. (The full 2019 Dirty Dozen list, ranked from most contaminated to least, include strawberries, spinach, kale, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery and potatoes.) The list is compiled from the results of regular testing done by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on pesticide residues. This year, the tests showed that more than 92% of conventionally grown kale samples harbored at least two pesticide residues. Some contained as many as 18. The USDA and FDA alternate testing among nearly four dozen fruits and vegetables every year and do not test the same ones annually. Nor do the agencies look for the same pesticides in each round of tests. The last time kale was tested was in 2009, when it ranked eighth on the EWG’s Dirty Dozen list. “The fact that the agencies don’t test each produce item every year is problematic,” says Nneka Leiba, director of healthy living science at EWG. “And more importantly, the fact that the USDA and FDA aren’t testing for all the pesticides used in fruits and vegetables is a huge problem.” The last time kale was tested, for example, it contained residues of imidacloprid, a nicotine substitute that is toxic to many insects, but the pesticide was not included in the most recent testing. The chemical is considered non-toxic to people but can cause breathing and intestinal problems if inhaled in excessive quantities. Kale and spinach contained 10% to 80% more pesticide residues by weight than any other fruit or vegetable. Alexis Temkin, a toxicologist at EWG, says these crops may be heavily contaminated because they grow close to the ground, where they are more likely to be exposed to bugs — and therefore to be targets for pesticides. Strawberries, another highly contaminated fruit, also grow low to the ground. The delicate leaves of kale and spinach also make them good candidates for spraying, since any infestation can damage the leaves and decrease the chances of being sold. EWG highlights pesticide residues because some studies have linked exposure to the chemicals to health issues, including problems with fertility and brain development, and even cancer. The latest report on kale found traces of Dacthal, which the Environmental Protection Agency classified as a possible human carcinogen. Dacthal was banned in Europe in 2009. The findings make the case for choosing organically grown fruits and vegetables, since research has shown that organic produce has fewer pesticide residues than conventional. If organic options are inaccessible or too expensive, you may want to consider choosing produce with lower amounts of pesticide residues. The EWG also lists the least contaminated fruits and vegetables — called the Clean Fifteen — and they include mostly produce with protective rinds or peels such as avocados, pineapples, sweet corn and eggplants. According to the government tests, fewer than 1% of avocados and sweet corn samples contained pesticide residue. Nearly all of the Clean Fifteen products contained less than four pesticides. (The full 2019 Clean Fifteen list, ranked from least to more contaminated, include avocados, sweet corn, pineapples, frozen sweet peas, onions, papayas, eggplants, asparagus, kiwis, cabbages, cauliflower, cantaloupes, broccoli, mushrooms and honeydew melons.) A representative for the Alliance for Food and Farming, which represents both conventional and organic farmers, says that “residues are so low on conventionally grown produce, if present at all,” noting that concerns about pesticides should not dissuade people from consuming fresh fruits and vegetables. EWG experts say there is little evidence that the use of pesticides on fruits and vegetables has declined over the years. In fact, says Temkin, there are hints that more pesticides may be sprayed on crops today. When kale was last tested, there were two types of residues on average detected on samples of the leafy green, and that average more than doubled to 5.5 in the latest report. “We see consistency with the foods continuously on the Dirty Dozen list,” she says.