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
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on Monday, April 28th, 2008 at 3:23 pm.
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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!
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