Vegetables and fruits most susceptible to pesticides
Vegetables and fruits are a staple of a healthy diet, but only if they are clean and free of pesticides.
According toInsiderThe National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences says there are 800 pesticides registered in the United States, some of which are used in large quantities and can cause a variety of health problems. Pesticide residues have been linked to higher risks of obesity, breast cancer, dementia and other health problems.
Since 2004, the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit organization dedicated to making the environment cleaner, has ranked non-organic produce most contaminated with pesticides in what it calls the Dirty Dozen list. EWG analyzes data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
“This year, we determined that 75 percent of conventional fresh produce sampled contained potentially harmful pesticide residues. But for the Dirty Dozen items, 95 percent of samples contained pesticides,” EWG said.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that in human studies, some pesticides have been linked to problems including miscarriage, birth defects, and learning or developmental disabilities in children.
According toCNBC, strawberries and spinach once again took the top two spots on this year's list. More than 90% of strawberries contained residues of two or more pesticides. Strawberries have topped the list every year since 2021. A 2016 study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found spinach had an average of seven pesticides, with the highest being three fungicides and one insecticide.
Grapes went from No. 8 in 2023 to No. 4 in 2024. Like strawberries, 90% of grape samples tested positive for two or more pesticides.
List of 12 fruits and vegetables with the highest amount of pesticides (on the US market):
1. Strawberry
2. Spinach
3. Kale, collard greens and mustard greens
4. Grapes
5. Peach
6. Pear
7. Nectarine
8. Apple
9. Bell peppers
10. Cherry
11. Blueberries
12. Green beans
How to clean food
According to the US CDC, wash your hands and necessary items before preparing food. Expert Carissa Galloway further guides:
- Run vegetables under cold water in the sink.
- Use paper towels or a special brush to clean vegetables and fruits.
- Use paper towels to dry the product if you do not plan to eat it immediately. Leafy greens can also be dried in a vegetable spinner.
You don't necessarily have to use baking soda or vinegar to clean fruits and vegetables./.
