Dirty and Clean Produce?

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What is Dirty and clean Produce? The Environmental Working Group has their popular
Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce.™ The guide list “Dirty” and “Clean” produce and
is updated every year. Their rankings are determined by pesticide contamination.

Dirty, produce is considered to have a higher chance of being contaminated by harmful

pesticides. Clean, produce is said to have a lower risk of any pesticide contamination. Lets,
take a look at some of the produce in both of the categories.

Produce More Likely To be Dirty?

So, What type of produce is more likely to have a higher chance of contamination? According to
EWG’s 2019 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™

They reported this headline Wednesday, March 20, 2019 “Over Half of Samples of Kale Tainted
With Possible Cancer-Causing Chemical.”

They, reported this startling news

after USDA tests disclosed the
vegetable and health food staple, kale
is among some the produce highest in
risk, when it comes to pesticide
residue contaminated produce.

In fact, Kale is ranked 3rd dirtiest

according to EWG’s 2019 Shopper’s
Guide. Only Strawberries and
Spinach are ranked higher or dirtier in
the shoppers guide.

The test revealed, more than 92% of

kale samples contained two or more
different pesticide residues. One sample could reveal up to 18 totally different residues.

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Dacthal
The startling part is that the most detected
pesticide, found on almost 60% of the kale
samples, was Dacthalwhich has been prohibited
in Europe since 2009, and is classified by the
EPA as a possible human carcinogen.

Dacthal, is not on the list of organic

pesticides approved by the United States
Department of Agriculture for use on non
conventional farms.

Substances, which are allowed by the

USDA’s National Organic Program are decided
by a selection board made up organic growers
and handlers, organic retailers, scientists,
environmentalists, consumer advocates and USDA accredited agents.

In light of these findings, I would strongly suggest that you consider buying the organic kale, if
possible, the next time you get some.

Strawberries
According, to USDA tests strawberries are
the most likely produce to be contaminated
by pesticide residue. Strawberries, despite
being rinsed in the field after picking, still
rank #1 on EWG’s Dirty list. If we want to
avoid the harmful pesticides, EWG suggest
that we buy organically grown strawberries.

Strawberry pesticide contamination facts,

are from the USDA’s Pesticide Data
Program. From January 2015 to October
2016, the USDA tested 1,174 batches of
non organic strawberries. The tests
revealed, almost every sample, or 99% of them had traces of pesticide residue.

More, alarming is the fact that 30 percent of them had residue from at least 10 different pesticides.
The worst sample having 23 different pesticide residues, with 81 different pesticides present in the
samples, in many varying combinations.

How bad are these chemicals for you?

They range from mild, and benign to being linked to cancer and possible reproductive and
developmental damage, and even hormone and neurological problems.

Cleanest Produce
What are the cleanest (least likely to be contaminated by pesticide residue) fruits and vegetables?
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Which ones are the safest to buy non organic? Let’s look at a couple. The number one cleanest on
the EWG’s list is …

Avocados
Here’s some great news, my fellow
Avocados lovers! Avocados are number one
on the EWG Clean 15 list. So, If you love
guacamole, like me, or using Avocados for
a snack, salads, condiment or any of it’s
many uses, relax! When tested, non organic
avocados, were found to have fewer than
one percent of contaminated pesticide
residues. In fact, only one pesticide residue
was detected.

Pineapple
Another safe bet, the pineapple was ranked
number 3. Like the Avocado, the pineapple is
very versatile, so not having to worry about
buying it organic is great. Probably, due to its
armor like exterior, 90 percent of non organic
pineapples tested had no traces of any pesticide
residues. Worried about the other 10%?
Thoroughly, washing all your produce will only
increase your chances, of avoiding any kind of
pesticide residue consumption.

Washing Your Produce

If it’s not possible, or feasible for you to buy
organic, spend some extra time washing your
produce with a baking soda or a vinegar
wash. Organics, should still be washed
though, to a lesser degree, and for not as
long. You can use your own judgment.

The baking soda wash has been proven to

remove some pesticides, which makes it a
great alternative if you are buying non
organics! For organics, the vinegar will more
than likely suffice, and also help with getting
rid of unwanted bacteria!

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For the baking soda wash, use one
teaspoon of baking soda, and two cups of
water making sodium bicarbonate, then
soak for 8-10 minutes or a bit longer and
then rinse.

For the vinegar wash, use 4 parts of water,

to one part white vinegar, let soak in the
solution for 15 to 20 minutes and then
thoroughly rinse.

Like always, I hope this post was uniquely

helpful, if it was please share it! : >)

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