What are the filthiest fruits and vegetables at the grocery store? Strawberries, spinach and kale, according this year's survey.
The nonprofit advocacy organization Environmental Working Groupreleases "Dirty Dozen" and "Clean Fifteen" lists each year using data fromthe Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration.
This yearThe Washington, D.C., group found that more than 90% of strawberry, apple, cherry, spinach, nectarineand grapesamples tested positive for residues of two or more pesticides. Kale, collard and mustard greens, hot peppers and bell peppers had the most pesticides. A single sample of kale, collard and mustard greens had up to 21 different pesticides.
Strawberries and leafy greens have beenrepeat offenders at the top of the list, ranking high in the past two years. Bell and hot peppers tested higher for pesticide residue this year, moving up from No. 10 last year to No. 7 this year.
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The produce with the least amount of pesticides? Avocados, sweet corn and pineapple topped the group's "Clean Fifteen."
Take a look at this year's lists below.
'Dirty Dozen' for 2022
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Kale, collard and mustard greens
- Nectarines
- Apples
- Grapes
- Bell and hot peppers
- Cherries
- Peaches
- Pears
- Celery
- Tomatoes
'Clean Fifteen' for 2022
- Avocados
- Sweet corn
- Pineapple
- Onions
- Papaya
- Sweet peas (frozen)
- Asparagus
- Honeydew melon
- Kiwi
- Cabbage
- Mushrooms
- Cantaloupe
- Mangoes
- Watermelon
- Sweet Potatoes
This year's data includes results from nearly 45,000 samples of produce from 2020.
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Pesticideshave been linked to multiple health issues, includingbrain development. Their impacts on fertility issues have the strongest data, saidAlexis Temkin, an Environmental Working Grouptoxicologist.
"There's still, I think, a lot of unknown impacts," Temkinsaid. "If you're reducing the exposure in the first place, then the likelihood of adverse health effects occurring is going to be much less."
Like the customers who rely on store-bought produce, USDA researchers scrubbed and peeled the fruits and veggies before testing them. Experts say the best way to wash produce is by washing it with just cold water.Pesticide residue was still found on over 70% of the non-organic produce tested. Nearly all of the levels fell under the legal limits allowed by government regulations, Environmental Working Group said.
Teresa Thorne, executive director of the Alliance for Food and Farming, anonprofit that representsorganic and conventional farmers,says Environmental Working Group's lists concernher.
First, she said, peer-reviewed research has shown that it's scientifically unsupportable, especially the claim that eating organic foods versus conventionally grown foods will result in lower pesticide exposure.
"Residues on conventional-grown are already so minute if they're present at all," she said. "The second thing is is that this list has been shown again through peer-reviewed research to negatively impact consumers. When low-income consumers were exposed to this list and some of the messaging in the Dirty Dozen list, they stated they were less likely to purchase any produce, organic or conventional."
She said Environmental Working Group's goal to help families access fruits and vegetables with less pesticide exposure was achieved long ago.
According to Thorne, 99.8% of the fruits and vegetables tested by the USDA under thePesticide Data Program are well below the Environmental Protection Agency's safety levels. A third have no detectable residues at all.
"We have 13 million children living in food-insecure households right now. To scare people away from conventional-grown, which is the more affordable and accessible fruits and vegetables in today's environment, really needs to be better thought through."
