Going organic is a great step in living a healthier lifestyle, but it can certainly take a hit on your wallet. For that reason, it can be hard to go all-in. If you’re looking to make healthier choices when it comes to the produce you consume, and want to know what to buy organic, get to know the “dirty dozen” and “clean fifteen.”
Each year since 2004, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has updated their list of the top pesticide contaminated foods in produce (“the dirty dozen”), as well as the top produce foods that are least contaminated (“the clean fifteen”). The results are based on more than 40,900 samples of produce tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration. It’s important to note that the samples are tested after they have been washed and, when applicable, peeled. You can’t wash or peel away the problem of pesticides!
WHAT TO BUY ORGANIC
THE DIRTY DOZEN – THE FOODS IN PRODUCE MOST CONTAMINATED BY PESTICIDES
Buy these 12 foods organic whenever possible:
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Kale
- Nectarines
- Apples
- Grapes
- Peaches
- Cherries
- Pears
- Tomatoes
- Celery
- Potatoes
THE CLEAN FIFTEEN – THE FOODS IN PRODUCE LEAST CONTAMINATED BY PESTICIDES
Don’t stress so much about buying these foods organic… these ones are on the cleaner side:
- Avocados
- Sweet Corn*
- Pineapples
- Frozen Sweet Peas
- Onions
- Papayas*
- Eggplant
- Asparagus
- Kiwi
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Cantaloup
- Broccoli
- Mushrooms
- Honeydew Mellons
*Sweet corn and papayas are on the clean fifteen list, however, some sold in the United States are produced from genetically modified seeds. So, while they may not be contaminated by pesticides, they may contain GMOs. The Environmental Working Group suggests buying organic if you want to avoid GMOs!
Sources:
https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php
