For a number of reasons, purchasing organic produce is becoming increasingly popular, but it still remains too expensive for many. Switching over to organic groceries can be a difficult, and expensive, task. For those who want to start the switch, but cannot afford to buy all organic, it is important to know which fruits and vegetables are less contaminated with pesticides, and which are important to purchase organic. By avoiding the 12 dirtiest fruits and vegetables, or buying them organic, we can lower our pesticide exposure by almost 90%.
12 Dirtiest
fruits and vegetables most likely to test positive for pesticides, you should purchase these organically
- Peaches- 96.6% of samples tested positive for pesticides, 86.6% for multiple pesticides
- Apples- 93.6% tested positive, 82.3% for multiple pesticides
- Sweet Bell Peppers- 81.5% tested positive, 62.2% for multiple pesticides
- Celery- 94.1% tested positive, 79.8% for multiple pesticides
- Nectarines- 97.3% tested positive, 85.3% for multiple pesticides
- Strawberries- 92.3% tested positive, 69.2% for multiple pesticides
- Cherries- 91.4% tested positive, 75.8% for multiple pesticides
- Lettuce- 68.2% tested positive, 44.3% for multiple pesticides
- Imported Grapes- 84.2% tested positive, 53.2% for multiple pesticides
- Pears- 86.2% tested positive, 45.7% for multiple pesticides
- Spinach- 70% tested positive, 31.2% for multiple pesticides
- Potatoes- 81% tested positive, 18% for multiple pesticides
12 Cleanest
fruits and vegetables that are least likely to test positive for pesticides
- Onions- only 0.2% of samples tested positive for pesticides, 0% for multiple pesticides
- Avocado- only 1.4% tested positive, 0% for multiple pesticides
- Frozen Sweet Corn- only 3.8% tested positive, 0% for multiple pesticides
- Pineapples- only 7.7% tested positive, 0.1% for multiple pesticides
- Mango- only 7.1% tested positive, 0.5% for multiple pesticides
- Frozen Sweet Peas- only 22.9% tested positive, 2.3% for multiple pesticides
- Asparagus- only 6.7% tested positive, 0.6% for multiple pesticides
- Kiwi- only 15.3% tested positive, 3.4% for multiple pesticides
- Bananas- 41.7% tested positive, but only 2% for multiple pesticides
- Cabbage- only 17.9% tested positive, 4.8% for multiple pesticides
- Brocolli- only 28.1% tested positive, 3.2% for multiple pesticides
- Eggplant- only 23.4% tested positive, 6.9% for multiple pesticides
The full list of sampled fruits and vegetables with all testing information can be seen on foodnews.org. Remember that these tests were completed after washing and/or peeling the fruits and vegetables in the manner that most people do, so washing does not necessarily mean your produce will be pesticide free.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:00 am
Wow, this is a great list... I WANT to buy everything organic, but like you mentioned, it's just too expensive... knowing what i can do non-organic and knowing what I really should buy organic is very nice to know... i need to make a few changes.
I also want to go check that site to see where watermelon falls on the list.
Quote This CommentJune 12th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Organic Baby Food said:
Looks like watermelon has the 15th best score. 38.5% tested positive, 13.2% for multiple pesticides.
Quote This CommentAugust 31st, 2008 at 4:27 am
WoW, the peaches and apples charted the top two in the most likely to test positive for pesticides!
Although I do know that the Apples is full with pesticides, but I didn't realize it can be have over 82.3% of multiple pesticides, and this can be dreathful, if I eat the whole apple without even peeling off the apple's skin!
Quote This CommentSeptember 2nd, 2008 at 2:15 am
Wilson, that number means that 82.3% of the apples tested were positive for having multiple pesticides. I don't know if peeling the skin would help anybody, but I would imagine not, since these fruits and vegetables were tested after being washed!
Quote This CommentSeptember 29th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Very interesting, I have never really bought into the organic fad but it is surprising to see such high numbers. I hope either they crack down on this or at least force companies to publish these percentages.
Quote This CommentOctober 3rd, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Key, and many people would be surprised to learn that washing the food doesn't help, these numbers were from after they were all washed.
Quote This CommentJanuary 17th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Wow ton of useful information. Bookmarking and stumbling you to come back and read more on organic foods. Very informative.
Cheers,
Quote This CommentDarrin
February 6th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Kiwi and bananas are among the cleanest – that’s good as I like them very much.
Quote This CommentI see that the problem of organic products becomes more and more discussed in developed countries. A year ago I moved to a country in Western Europe where the quality of life is much higher than in my native country. And I notice that the taste and the quality of products here, not only fruits and vegetables but products like milk for example, is not what I got used to at home. And to buy sth “real” is truly costly. However, that will not make me return back home
February 6th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Thanks for the good info. I never buy anything but organic foods for my family. I can really make the difference in our lives.
Quote This CommentFebruary 14th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Does this mean that we need to wash our organic fruit and vegetables as thoroughly as non-organic foods? It seems like it. Does the washing actually help?
Quote This CommentMarch 11th, 2009 at 9:32 am
It's a great idea to have a list like this. Often people will buy organic produce even though there may be little or no pesticides found on them. What's funny is that the top list of high pesticide items all are readily available in America in local farms. So it makes sense to buy those local and reduce you chance of ingesting high levels of pesticides.
Quote This CommentMarch 11th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Caralluma, isn't it strange how "developed" countries seem to be lacking in certain areas when compared to "undeveloped" areas?
Adam, you'll want to wash any open-air foods you buy. There could be dirt, germs, etc. on them from being in stores/markets.
pays to live green, it does make sense to buy them local, especially since there are so many farmer's markets!
Quote This CommentMarch 20th, 2009 at 4:36 am
One of the most important things we can do for our children is to make a balanced variety of healthy food choices available to them.We may try to limit junk foods,feed them plenty of fruits, vegetables and freshly prepared meals or teach them how to eat to make sure their nutritional needs are met.But a growing number of parents are taking it a step further.They want fresh, wholesome food and they want to know exactly where it’s coming from – where it was grown, how it was raised, what it was fed.
Quote This CommentApril 20th, 2009 at 11:35 am
I was looking for information about healthy eating and healthy living as ideas for content to our website. I enjoyed the article and most of the associated suggestions. However, any form of cigarette advertising should not be allowed. Any method of delivering nicotine other than to quit smoking should not be encouraged.
Quote This CommentMay 24th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Excellent article! I have never seen information like this that breaks down the amount of pesticides present in each fruit/vegetable. I bookmarked this post and will surely be referencing it in the future.
Quote This CommentJune 8th, 2009 at 2:05 am
Apples- 93.6% tested positive, 82.3% for multiple pesticides, this is really very shocking for me.
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