Eating organic has always seemed important – however why and how to do it can be a bit of a mystery! Knowing what produce is high in persistent organic pollutant’s (POPs) can help us understand how to avoid unwanted health defects due to what foods we love to eat.
Pesticides, those invisible toxins we never see but always hear about, are derived from agricultural farming and used to keep pests, diseases, and weeds away from produce. They’re great, right? Maybe ideal for farmers, but not so peachy for us consumers. Between the infamous ‘Dirty Dozen’ and the ‘Clean Fifteen,’ what we should and shouldn’t be eating can be quite confusing!
What is the ‘Dirty Dozen’?
The ‘Dirty Dozen’ is a group of popular food products that have been researched to be high in POPs. The list is released every year since its inception in 2004 and ranks the pesticide contamination of 47 popular fruits and vegetables crowning the top 12 as the ‘Dirty Dozen.’ This list is compiled by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a consumer advocacy non-profit working to empower people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. The below hierarchy is based on results of more than 40,900 samples of produce tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. Warning- your heart may break a little after reading the list below (in order of highest amount of pesticides found to lowest). (1)
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Kale
- Nectarines
- Apples
- Grapes
- Peaches
- Cherries
- Pears
- Tomatoes
- Celery
- Potatoes
But it doesn’t stop there. Among the 47 fruits and vegetables listed are some more favorites:
- Cucumber: Be aware that this list is extremely limited; many other common food products are heavily affected by pesticides, and they’re not all fresh produce.
- Blueberries (noooo!): They are wonderfully high in antioxidants which are great for fighting off diseases however non-organic blueberries are usually sprayed with pesticides. Kristen Schafer of the Pesticide Action Network says that ‘Virtually all food products are contaminated with POPs that have been banned in the United States—baked goods, fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry, and dairy products…’ Thus our ‘Dirty Dozen’ is a far fetch from the real amount of food products containing pesticides; the list increases: (2)
- Canned Fruit and Fruit Squash: They can contain Carbendazim (a hormone-disrupting chemical as well as a possible human carcinogen)
- Barley, maize, and wheat can also contain Carbendazim.
- Butter contains six different POP’s.
- Baby Food: Shop produced, pureed baby food is supposed to be low in pesticide, however, parents who make their own may not realize that the fruits and vegetables that they commonly use to make the food can be high in POPs. Pears, apples, and blueberries which are all common baby food ingredients all test high in pesticides. By buying organic, you’ll be more guaranteed from keeping your child away from unwanted toxins in their food!
- Meatloaf (prepared with typical conventional ingredients)contains five different POP’s.
Please take note! The list of highly pesticide-ridden food could go on much further. However, the ones shown above are certainly some of the most toxic.
What Are The ‘Clean 15’?
The ‘Clean Fifteen’ are a group of produce that are tested low in pesticides and therefore grabbing one off the shelf (organic or not) is okay! (3)
- Avocado
- Sweet Corn
- Pineapple
- Frozen Sweet Peas
- Onions
- Papayas
- Eggplant
- Asparagus
- Kiwi
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Cantaloupe
- Broccoli
- Mushrooms
- Honeydew Melons
By trying to consume fewer ‘Dirty Dozen’ produce and more of the ‘Clean Fifteen’ products you’re guaranteed to cut down on pesticide intake, reducing the chances of side effects.
What Are The Side Effects of Consuming Pesticides?
There are many different downsides to consuming products that test high in pesticides.
Many different studies conclude that it is not unusual to find five or more pesticides per product is not uncommon and can cause health problems such as simple eye irritation and malaise to more serious problems including different types of cancer, neurological damage, sterility, and immune system problems. With such serious side effects linked to the intake of pesticides, it is a serious concern for many people, but there are ways you can personally prevent a large intake of these toxins.
How to Prevent Pesticides From Affecting to You!
Many people believe that by washing or peeling your fruit or vegetables, it can help get rid of pesticides however it is not a truly effective way of eliminating the problem. According to Dr. Philip Landrigan, a world-renowned pediatrician and epidemiologist, “Even low levels of pesticide exposure can be harmful to children. When possible, parents and caregivers should take steps to lower children’s exposures to pesticides while still feeding them diets rich in healthy fruits and vegetables.” (3)
To make sure you aren’t buying and consuming foods high in pesticides- go organic! By purchasing organic produce you are guaranteed unwanted toxins will not affect the products, and you can eat as many apple pies as you want- guilt free!
Now we know that we don’t have to go completely organic to eat pesticide-free means it’s a lot less hassle hunting down our favorite fruit in organic form and much more wallet friendly!
