Imagine brewing up a cocktail of 67 different pesticides and dipping your celery into it before eating it. According The Environmental Working Group (EWG), that’s exactly what you’re ingesting when you eat non-organic celery. The EWG analyzed about 100,000 reports from the Food and Drug Administration and US Department of Agriculture to determine which fruits and vegetables have the most (and least) amounts of chemicals on them even after a thorough “power clean”.
Their analysis resulted in the creation of two separate lists: The Dirty Dozen and The Clean Fifteen. The skin of the fruits and vegetables on the Dirty Dozen list has a greater tendency to absorb the pesticides. The President’s Cancer Panel recommends eating pesticide-free produce to reduce your risk of getting cancer and other diseases. By choosing the certain organic fruits and vegetables, you can reduce the amount of toxins you consume on a daily basis by as much as 80 percent.
The Dirty Dozen (contains between 47-67 pesticides per serving)
CHOOSE ORGANIC WHEN POSSIBLE
- Celery
- Peaches
- Strawberries
- Apples
- Domestic Blueberries
- Nectarines
- Sweet Bell Peppers
- Spinach, Kale & Collard Greens
- Cherries
- Potatoes
- Imported Grapes
- Lettuce
The Clean Fifteen (contains trace or no pesticides)
NO NEED TO BUY ORGANIC
- Onions
- Avocados
- Sweet Corn
- Pineapples
- Mango
- Sweet Peas
- Asparagus
- Kiwi Fruit
- Cabbage
- Eggplant
- Cantaloupe
- Watermelon
- Grapefruit
- Sweet Potatoes
- Sweet Onions
If your favorite fruit or veggie isn’t on the list, check out the Environmental Working Group’s website at www.foodnews.org. There is a complete list of 49 types of produce that were tested for pesticide residue.
The best weapon we have to ward off cancer and other diseases is knowledge. So take this list with you when you go shopping and keep your daily intake of pesticides to a minimum!
Eat Clean,
Molly
On a related note, check out this Washington Post story on the dangers of common pesticides used against fleas:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health/she-had-her-house-sprayed-for-fleas-and-then-the-trouble-began/2011/04/21/AFmjC49G_story.html
Oh my…scared to read that one since both of my “girls” use Frontline. Thanks for sharing the information with us Frank!
Now my challenge is to memorize this. How about a mnemonic like CPSABNSBPSKCGCPGL. Damn. Only one vowel makes that tough!
If anyone can figure out a mnemonic, it’s YOU! Thanks… 🙂
WOW, that is awesome information! We spend a small fortune trying to buy everything organic. Now we can eat more of the “Clean 15” and save money we can use to buy organic when necessary. Thanks Molly, your blog is terrific.
Thanks for the nice comment Craig. Yes, save your money on the Clean 15! And check out the complete list on their website… Stay well!
I found a free app (for my Android phone) that keeps the Dirty Dozen & Clean 15 right at my fingertips. Even if you don’t have a smartphone, write the list down and keep it in your wallet (or with your coupons – whatever you take when you go shopping). I always pull up my list when I’m at the market!
Can you tell us how to find that app? What a great idea! Thanks for your comment…