Environmental group issues dirty dozen, clean fifteen for produce

The group EWG has issued the following release on pesticides on produce.

Nearly 70 percent of the produce sold in the U.S. comes with pesticide residues, according to EWG’s analysis of test data from the Department of Agriculture.

The USDA tests revealed that the popular health food kale is among the most contaminated fruits and vegetables. More than 92 percent of kale samples had two or more pesticide residues detected, and a single sample could contain up to 18 different residues. The most frequently detected pesticide, found on nearly 60 percent of kale samples, was Dacthal, or DCPA – classified by the Environmental Protection Agency since 1995 as a possible human carcinogen, and prohibited for use in Europe since 2009.

According to the group, the USDA found 225 different pesticides and pesticide breakdown products on popular fruits and vegetables. EWG stated that before testing, all produce was washed and peeled.

EWG’S DIRTY DOZEN FOR 2019
Strawberries
Spinach
Kale
Nectarines
Apples
Grapes
Peaches
Cherries
Pears
Tomatoes
Celery
Potatoes

More than 90 percent of samples of strawberries, apples, cherries, spinach, nectarines, and kale tested positive for residues of two or more pesticides.

Multiple samples of kale showed 18 different pesticides.

Kale and spinach samples had, on average, 1.1 to 1.8 times as much pesticide residue by weight than any other crop.

Different fruits and vegetables can have vastly different levels and numbers of pesticides detected on the crop. All research agrees on the health benefits of a diet that includes fruits and vegetables, and eating fresh produce – organic or conventional, as budget allows – is essential for health.

EWG’S CLEAN FIFTEEN FOR 2019
Avocados
Sweet corn
Pineapples
Frozen sweet peas
Onions
Papayas
Eggplants
Asparagus
Kiwis
Cabbages
Cauliflower
Cantaloupes
Broccoli
Mushrooms
Honeydew melon

For more on EWG, go to www.EWG.org