We all want to purchase healthy and safe foods for our family and ourselves. The question is, which ones are considered safe? There are particular foods that are known to contain more pesticides and other toxins than other foods. These are called the Dirty Dozen. These twelve foods are ones that you should purchase organic if you have the opportunity. As we mentioned before in the previous blog, pesticides and toxins can cause serious health issues in the long-term.
Here are the most recent Dirty Dozen:
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Kale
- Nectarines>
- Apples
- Grapes
- Peaches
- Cherries
- Pears
- Tomatoes
- Celery
- Potatoes
The “dirtiest” of these foods is at the top of the list and strawberries have reached #1 for the past 5 years. Kale and spinach make the top of the list due to pesticide residue and traces of DCPA, an herbicide. Another food to look out for that did not officially make the list is raisins.
So, there’s the list of foods that are considered “dirty” due to very high pesticide use and another list that are considered to have the lowest amount of pesticide residue. These are the Clean Fifteen!
Here are the most recent Clean Fifteen:
- Avocados
- Sweet corn
- Pineapples
- Onions
- Papaya
- Sweet Peas, Frozen
- Eggplant
- Asparagus
- Cauliflower
- Cantaloupe
- Broccoli
- Mushrooms
- Cabbage
- Honey Melon
- Kiwi
These may be considered the Clean Fifteen, but some foods such as sweet corn, papaya and summer squash are produced from genetically modified seeds. To avoid GMO foods, choose organic. We hope this list helps you shop safe and smart at your local grocery store. Our motto is, “When in doubt, go organic!” Look for the USDA seal.
All of the data that goes into these lists come from the United States Department of Agriculture Pesticide Data Program.
