Hello All!

The 2019 Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 list was released recently and I wanted to share it with you! As many of you may already know, the use of pesticides on our fruits and vegetables can be acutely toxic. They cause havoc on our hormones and respiratory system. Long term pesticide exposure has been linked to the development of Parkinson’s disease; asthma; depression and anxiety; cancer, including leukaemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma; and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

In recognition of this, I would like to share with all of you this article that was written by Emma Loewe, who is the Sustainability Editor at Mind Body Green (mag). She writes:

Every year, the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen provide a snapshot of pesticide use in America.

To put it together, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) analyzes USDA data on the chemicals found on grocery store produce. Then, the watchdog organization compiles it into an easy-to-digest list of fruits and veggies that tended to contain the most and least pesticides in the past year.

While the USDA data tends to be inconsistent (the EWG told us that the produce they test every year varies, as do the chemicals they test for), the list provides helpful suggestions for those of us looking to avoid pesticides, which are now present in nearly 70 percent of produce sold in the U.S.

Some produce samples can have more than 50 different types of pesticides. In total, the most recent analysis identified 225 different pesticides-all of which were found after produce was washed in cold water for 15 to 20 seconds and, if applicable, peeled.

Let’s take a look at the highs and lows on this year’s just-released list.

EWG’s Clean Fifteen 2019
Avocados
Sweet Corn
Pineapples
Sweet Peas Frozen
Onions
Papayas
Eggplants
Asparagus
Kiwis
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Cantaloupes
Broccoli
Mushrooms
Honeydew Melons

Avocados, the beloved healthy fat of the wellness world, won the cleanest produce award again this year. Fewer than 1 percent of conventionally grown avocados tested positive for pesticides, thanks to the fruit’s thick skin that protects its edible interior.

If you’re looking to save some money on produce, buying non-organic when it comes to fruits and veggies that have an inedible protective barrier seems to be a safe bet.

EWG’s Dirty Dozen 2019
Strawberries
Spinach
Kale
Nectarines
Apples
Grapes
Peaches
Cherries
Pears
Tomatoes
Celery
Potatoes

This year, strawberries topped the Dirty Dozen list yet again. EWG scientists explained that this might have to do with the fact that the fruit is often sprayed with chemicals in transit as well as on the farm. The same goes for apples: An incredible 80 percent of conventionally grown ones contain diphenylamine, a chemical treatment that prevents them from browning in storage but has been banned in the E.U. for years due to health concerns.

Looking at this list, we can conclude that fruits and veggies that have delicate exteriors (and therefore run the risk of being destroyed by insects or infection before they make it to market) tend to need more protective chemicals-which makes sense. “When growers decide when to use pesticides, it’s really a business decision,” explains Naidenko. “Their goal is not to spray a lot of pesticides and poison people but to get their produce to market.”

If you’re looking to avoid pesticides for the sake of your well-being (not to mention, the health of farmers and the planet), you might want to stay away from the softies. However, as the EWG notes, produce that is grown with pesticides is still better than no produce at all.

“The health benefits of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables outweigh the risks of pesticide exposure,” the report FAQ reads. “Eating conventionally grown produce is far better than skipping fruits and vegetables.”

If you would like a copy of the 2019 Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen list, you can DOWNLOAD IT HERE! Knowledge is power when it comes to your health! I hope you find this article as interesting as I did!