A Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce


In October of 2003, the Evironmental Working Group (EWG), a small non-profit group dedicated to using the power of information to protect human health and the environment, released its latest findings on pesticides in produce. EWG researchers analyzed over 100,000 U.S. government pesticide test results and found 192 different pesticides on 46 popular fresh fruits and vegetables. They were analyzing USDA data for commercial (not organic) produce, and the USDA tests products "as most often consumed", so produce wash washed, apples were cored, bananas were peeled, etc. An EWG simulation of thousands of consumers eating high and low pesticide diets shows that people can lower their pesticide exposure by 90 percent by avoiding the top twelve most contaminated fruits and vegetables and eating the least contaminated instead. Eating the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables will expose a person to nearly 20 pesticides per day, on average. These are clearly the produce you should strive to buy organic!

The 12 Most Contaminated Commercial Produce Items

  1. Apples
  2. Bell peppers
  3. Celery
  4. Cherries
  5. Imported Grapes
  6. Nectarines
  7. Peaches
  8. Pears
  9. Potatoes
  10. Red Raspberries
  11. Spinach
  12. Strawberries
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