Every year the Environmental Working Group releases their Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce, commonly known as the "Dirty Dozen" list and the “Clean Fifteen” list. The Guide is an annual rating of 47 commonly purchased fruits and vegetables with the most and least amount of pesticide residue, based on an analysis of 32,000 samples tested by the FDA and U.S. Department of Agriculture.
For more than a decade, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has been stepping in to provide information to millions of shoppers that the EPA has failed to offer, despite a 1996 "Consumer Right to Know" law that requires it.
This year, the USDA tests found a total of 230 different pesticides and pesticide breakdown products on the thousands of produce samples analyzed – that’s 70% of the conventionally grown produce samples contaminated with pesticide residue. There are also stark differences among various types of produce. Pesticides pose health risks, but luckily for us the EWG’s research and testing makes it easy for consumers to make an educated decision while shopping for produce.
The 2019 Dirty Dozen List
These items ranked highest in pesticide residue data, even after the fruit is carefully washed or peeled. It’s recommended to purchase organically grown versions of these fruits and vegetables to help you skip the toxic chemicals.
1. Strawberries
2. Spinach
3. Kale
4. Nectarines
5. Apples
6. Grapes
7. Peaches
8. Cherries
9. Pears
10. Tomatoes
11. Celery
12. Potatoes
For #13 to 47, see the full list here.
Alarming Findings
- Kale is among the most contaminated of the 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.
- 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.of at least one pesticide.
The 2019 Clean Fifteen List
These items ranked lowest in pesticide residue data when grown conventionally.
1. Avocados
2. Sweet Corn**
3. Pineapples
4. Sweet Peas (frozen)
5. Onions
6. Papayas**
7. Eggplant
8. Asparagus
9. Kiwi
10. Cabbage
11. Cauliflower
12. Cantaloupe
13. Broccoli
14. Mushrooms
15. Honeydew Melons
**The majority of sweet corn and papaya sold in the United States are produced from genetically modified seeds (GMO). Most Hawaiian papaya is GMO. Buy organic varieties of these crops if you want to avoid genetically modified produce.
Interesting Findings
- Avocados and sweet corn** were the cleanest, with only 1% of samples showing any detectable pesticides.
- More than 70 percent of Clean Fifteen fruit and vegetable samples had no pesticide residues.
- With the exception of cabbage, all other produce on the Clean Fifteen tested positive for less than four pesticides.
- Multiple pesticide residues are extremely rare on Clean Fifteen vegetables. Only 6% of Clean Fifteen fruit and vegetable samples had two or more pesticides.
By releasing this list every year, the EWG empowers consumers who may otherwise find the cost of purchasing all organic produce cost-prohibitive. By referencing both guides, shoppers are able to select between conventionally grown and organically grown produce with real data backing up their choice.
Why Should I Avoid Pesticides?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, "The health effects of pesticides depends on the type of pesticide. Some, such as organophosphates and carbamates, affect the nervous system. Others may irritate the skin or eyes. Some pesticides may be carcinogens. Others may affect the hormone or endocrine system in the body." A study in JAMA Internal Medicine found an association between consuming high-pesticide-residue foods and fertility problems.
Pesticides and Children – An Even Greater Health Risk
- The National Academy of Sciences reports that children are more susceptible to chemicals than adults and estimates 50% of lifetime pesticide exposure occurs in the first 5 years of life.
- The EPA reports children take in more pesticides relative to body weight than adults and have developing organ systems more vulnerable and less able to detoxify toxins.
- A 2000 study published by the EWG found pesticides such as the weedkiller 2,4-D pass from mother to child through umbilical cord blood and breast milk.
- Researchers at the University of California-Berkeley found exposure to pesticides while in the womb may increase the odds a child will have ADHD.
- Children's exposure to organophosphates can cause subtle but lasting damage to their brains and nervous system.
Why is Organic More Expensive?
Organically grown produce more closely reflects the true price of farming. Government subsidies tend to go towards large-scale, chemically intensive agriculture, lowering the true price of these conventionally grown products. The very practice of growing organic, such as restricted chemical use, better standards of care for animals, and more manual labor, is costlier to the farmer. In order to have the USDA-certified Organic seal on their product, organic farmers must pay for certification costs, which are expensive.
Shopping at your local farmers market can be a good way to save money on organically grown produce, particularly for those items that appear on the Dirty Dozen list. Often, your small, local farmer may employ organic growing practices, even if he/ she has not paid for the organic certification. In addition, you are not paying to have these items shipped from 1/2 way around the globe. These savings are passed on to you, the consumer. Local farmers are happy to talk to you about their growing practices and will often invite you to their farm should you want to verify for yourself.
Shop smart, shop local, and don't leave home without The Guide! They have a really convenient app you can download onto your phone for a quick reference while grocery shopping.
Go Organic!
Kelly Harrington, MS, RDN
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for Healthy Goods
References:
Y-H Chiu et al., Association Between Pesticide Residue Intake from Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables and Pregnancy Outcomes Among Women Undergoing Infertility Treatment With Assistance Reproductive Technology. JAMA Internal Medicine, 2018. DOI: 10.1001/amainternmed.2017.5038. Available at jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2659557
http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/human.htm
http://www.beyondpesticides.org/lawn/factsheets/Pesticide.children.dontmix.pdf
