March 15, 2023 – Three-quarters of non-organic produce sold within the United States comprises potentially toxic chemicals, in response to the Environmental Working Group’s latest rating of the “best and worst” vegatables and fruits for pesticide contamination.
The group released their “2023 Buyer's Guide to Pesticides in Produce™”, with blueberries and green beans joining the “Dirty Dozen” of the 12 non-organic or conventionally grown vegatables and fruits with essentially the most pesticides.
Some of the pesticides are banned within the US or Europe due to their potential danger.
“Despite the wealth of scientific evidence linking pesticide exposure to serious health problems, a potentially toxic cocktail of chemicals of concern continues to contaminate many of the non-organic fruits and vegetables consumed by consumers,” said Dr. Alexis Temkin, an EWG toxicologist, in a Press release.
The group's findings, based on FDA and Department of Agriculture testing, underscore the necessity for stronger regulations and controls on pesticide use in food production. The information was compiled from greater than 46,000 samples of 46 vegatables and fruits – covering 251 pesticides.
According to the EWG, people can buy organically grown produce from the “Dirty Dozen”: strawberries, spinach, kale, collard greens and mustard greens, peaches, pears, nectarines, apples, grapes, bell peppers and hot peppers, cherries, blueberries and green beans.
A “Clean 15” list of non-organic vegatables and fruits with the bottom pesticide content was also created. These include avocados, sweet corn, pineapples, onions, papayas, snow peas (frozen), asparagus, cantaloupe, kiwis, cabbage, mushrooms, mangoes, sweet potatoes, watermelons and carrots.
“Pesticides are naturally toxic and are specifically designed to kill living organisms – insects, plants and fungi are considered 'pests,'” the EWG says. “But many pesticides also pose health risks to humans, including cancer, hormone disruption and brain and nervous system toxicity. These dangers have been confirmed by independent scientists, doctors and U.S. and international government agencies.
“Most pesticide residues detected by the USDA and FDA are below legal limits and are legal. But legal limits don’t all the time indicate what’s protected for human consumption.”