Grocery shop to avoid pesticide residue

A 2010 report issued by the President’s Cancer Panel recommends eating produce without pesticides to reduce your risk of getting cancer and other diseases. And according to the Environmental Working Group (an organization of scientists, researchers and policymakers), certain types of organic produce can reduce the amount of toxins you consume on a daily basis by as much as 80 percent.  

The group put together two lists annually, “The Dirty Dozen” and “The Clean 15,” to help consumers know when they should buy organic and when it is unnecessary. These lists were compiled using data from the United States Department of Agriculture on the amount of pesticide residue found in non-organic fruits and vegetables after they had been washed. The most recent list was compiled for 2014.

The fruits and vegetables on “The Dirty Dozen” list, when conventionally grown, tested positive for at least 47 different chemicals, with some testing positive for as many as 67. For produce on the “dirty” list, you should definitely go organic — The Dirty Dozen” list includes:

·         apples

·         celery

·         cherry tomatoes

·         Cucumbers

·         Grapes

·         Nectarines (imported)

·         peaches

·         potatoes

·         snap peas

·         spinach, kale and collard greens

·         strawberries

·         sweet bell peppers

All the produce on “The Clean 15” bore little to no traces of pesticides, and is safe to consume in non-organic form. This list includes:

·         asparagus

·         avocados

·         cabbage

·         cantaloupe

·         cauliflower

·         eggplant

·         grapefruit

·         kiwi

·         mango

·         onions

·         papaya

·         pineapples

·         sweet corn

·         sweet peas (frozen)

·         sweet potatoes 

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