The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has released its annual Shopper's Guide, including its 2015 Dirty Dozen list, a useful tool for identifying (and avoiding) the most pesticide-contaminated produce on the market.
EWG analysts uses U.S. Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration (USDA) pesticide-residue testing results as a basis for ranking 48 different fruits and vegetables. The total number of pesticides detected on a crop and the percent of samples tested with detectable pesticides are also factored in. The report is timely, given that a recent study found people who buy organic produce have much lower levels of organophosphate insecticides inside of their bodies compared to people eating conventionally grown fruits and veggies. Pesticides have been linked to a number of health problems, including certain cancers and lower IQ in children.
MORE: 10 Crazy Things Pesticides Are Doing to Your Body
"The bottom line is people do not want to eat pesticides with their fruits and vegetables," said Ken Cook, EWG's president and cofounder. "That's why we will continue telling shoppers about agricultural chemicals that turn up on their produce, and we hope we will inform, and ultimately, empower them to eat cleaner."
The list also includes two additional produce items—leafy greens and hot peppers—since they are frequently contaminated with insecticides that are particularly toxic to human health, EWG notes.
2015 Dirty Dozen List
1. Apples
2. Peaches
3. Nectarines
4. Strawberries
5. Grapes
6. Celery
7. Spinach
8. Sweet Bell Peppers
9. Cucumbers
10. Cherry Tomatoes
11. Snap Peas (Imported)
12. Potatoes
+ Leafy Greens
+ Hot Peppers
(Check out the "Clean 15" Produce List.)
http://www.prevention.com/food/dirtiest-produce-highest-levels-pesticides