The Dirty Dozen and The Clean 15

According to the latest government data, the peaches in most American supermarkets have the highest amount of pesticide contamination of any other fruit or vegetable. And there are 11 other highly contaminated produce on the list. Since you can’t tell just by looking at it, how do you know when it’s OK to eat conventionally grown produce and when it’s important to go organic? Read on and find out which fruits and veggies are the most contaminated with pesticides and how to still eat organic while staying within your budget.


The Dirty Dozen and The Clean 15

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit advocacy group, just released the new updated 5th Edition of their classic Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce. This handy guide shows you the fruits and veggies with the most and least pesticides, so you know which to always buy organic and which are pretty clean even when conventionally grown.

Based on data from nearly 87,000 tests for pesticide residues in produce conducted between 2000 and 2007, the EWG developed their guide to help consumers reduce their exposure to pesticides. According to the EWG, eating their designated Dirty Dozen—the 12 most contaminated conventionally grown fruits and vegetables—will expose us to about 10 different pesticides per day! For those of us who have limited access to organic options or who are on a tight budget, the organization also identifies The Clean 15—the 15 least contaminated conventionally grown fruits and veggies, which will expose us to fewer than 2 pesticides per day.

The new 2009 Dirty Dozen are (listed from most to least contaminated): peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, kale, lettuce, grapes (imported), carrots, and pears. These you should definitely eat organic. The Clean 15 are (listed from least to most contaminated): onions, avocadoes, sweet corn, pineapples, mangoes, asparagus, sweet peas, kiwi, cabbage, eggplant, papaya, watermelon, broccoli, tomato and sweet potatoes. These are OK to eat conventionally grown if you are on a budget and cannot afford to buy all organic.

Reducing your exposure to pesticides is vital. Research has shown that even small doses of pesticides and other chemicals can cause lasting damage to human health, especially to unborn fetuses and young children. Pesticides have been linked to various disorders and diseases, including cancers of the reproductive, endocrine and immune systems.

The specific effects of many pesticides are still unknown. Pesticide manufacturers claim their products are safe, but the studies on these products are usually done with high doses, rather than testing the chronic low doses that people typically experience.

You may be wondering if washing and peeling your produce will help reduce your exposure. Maybe a little, but nearly all of the studies used to create the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 lists were performed on produce that had been rinsed and peeled the same way you would do at home. Rinsing reduces but does not eliminate pesticides. Peeling helps, but valuable nutrients often go down the disposal with the skin. The best approach is to eat a varied diet, rinse all produce and buy organic when possible. Organic foods have fewer pesticides and the people who eat them have fewer pesticides in their bodies. There’s no evidence that pesticides are good for you, why take a chance if you don’t have to?

You can download a colorful printable version of the wallet-sized guide of The Dirty Dozen and The Clean 15 at www.foodnews.org. Carry it with you in your purse or pocket when you go shopping.