Dirty Produce, which ones to worry about?

If you buy your produce, you should be aware they do contain trace amounts of pesticides and should be washed properly.

Washing and rinsing with water alone does not remove them. Some say that using vinegar/water in a spray or a little bit of dish soap will remove more pesticides. You can also purchase a veggie wash from the store but the best option is to eat a varied diet,wash all produce, and choose organic when possible to reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.

The FoodGuide lists 43 different produce on a scale of 0 -100 and here is the dirty dozen

RANK	FRUIT OR VEGGIE	SCORE
1 (worst)	Peaches	100 (highest pesticide load)
2	Apples	96
3	Sweet Bell Peppers	86
4	Celery	85
5	Nectarines	84
6	Strawberries	83
7	Cherries	75
8	Lettuce	69
9	Grapes - Imported	68
10	Pears	65
11	Spinach	60
12	Potatoes	58

Why should I be concerned?

There is one thing that I know for sure pesticides are toxic to humans and animals. Sure there is a debate about it, but if you think about it any man-made chemical is toxic for our bodies. Here is what the Environmental Working Group (EWG) says about it

Pesticides are toxic by design. They kill bugs, weeds, fungi, rodents and other "pests." That's why the government regulates them--though not stringently enough. The risks you encounter when you eat them depend on a number of factors including the toxicity of the pesticide, degree and form of exposure, your age, genetic susceptibility, and exposure to other toxics, including other pesticides. We believe that:

1. You have a right to know what's in your food.

2. The risks from many of these contaminants remain unacceptably high, especially for infants and children

3. The government can and should take steps to dramatically reduce the number and amount of toxic chemicals, including pesticides, from the food supply.

So visit FoodGuide and print out the PDF pocket Guide in English or Spanish for the next time you are debating if getting that organic apple or celery is worth the cost.

EWG analyzed over 42,000 of the latest government tests for pesticide residues on commonly-eaten fruits and vegetables. Then they ranked the results based on six measures of pesticide loads, even after washing and peeling.