Pesticides, Produce and Problems

When you can't grow your own produce, buy organic or get it delivered to your door, here are some ways to limit the amount of pesticides you ingest.

1. Peel fruits and vegetables that have been waxed.
2. Eat more of the produce with thicker skins as they are safer than those with thinner skins.
3. Wash your produce in a biodegradable fruit and vegetable soap.

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) people can reduce the amount of pesticides they consume by 90% by simply avoiding the most contaminated fruits and vegetables.  The EWG has created a list of produce that has the least and most concentration of pesticide residue.


Most Contaminated Fruits and Vegetables ("Dirty Dozen")

• Apples
• Celery
• Strawberries
• Peaches
• Spinach
• Nectarines (imported
• Grapes (imported)
• Sweet Bell Peppers
• Potatoes
• Blueberries (domestic)
• Lettuce
• Kale/Collard Greens

Least Contaminated Fruits and Vegetables

• Asparagus
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cantaloupe (Domestic)
• Eggplant
• Grapefruit
• Kiwis
• Mangoes
• Mushrooms
• Onion
• Pineapple
• Sweet Corn
• Sweet peas
• Sweet potatoes
• Watermelon

Continual exposure to and consumption of pesticides can cause skin irritations, birth defects, tumours, comas, cancers, genetic changes, liver and kidney damage, changes in fertility and much more.