The Dirtiest and Cleanest Fruits and Vegetables

ABC News reported that, a recent study by The Food and Drug Administration in the United States was conducted to determine the contamination of fruits and vegetables with pesticide residues. The study showed that two-thirds of the produce tested did not contain any pesticide residue, but did not identify what are these fruits and vegetables in the same manner that it was not mentioned which produce belong to the other third that were found with traces of pesticides.

The Dirty Dozen

In light to this, the Environmental Working Group, also in the United States, released a list of twelve fruits and vegetables that likely absorb most pesticides and coined them as the “dirty dozen.” It was noted though that these produce require a lot of pesticides to grow. Ms. Jane Houlihan, the senior vice president for research for the Environmental Working Group revealed that some of these fruits and vegetables can contain nine different pesticides in a single serving, even when washed and peeled.

Here are the twelve dirtiest fruits and vegetables:

1. Peaches
2. Apple
3. Bell peppers
4. Celery
5. nectarine
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Hale
9. Lettuce
10. Grapes
11. Carrots
12. Pears

Possible Danger to Health

The possible dangers to one's health that one can get from eating pesticide contaminated fruits and vegetables include: carcinogenic, harmful to the nervous system and can alter hormones.

The Clean 15

In another report, the Environmental Working Group also released a list of fruits and vegetables that are least likely to have pesticide residue or what they call the “Clean 15.” These fruits and vegetables are:

1. onion
2. avocado
3. sweet corn
4. pineapple
5. mango
6. asparagus
7. sweet peas
8. kiw
9. cabbage
10. eggplant
11. papaya
12. watermelon
13. broccoli
14. tomato
15. sweet potato

Practice Food Safety

ABC News reminded the people that produce had to be washed properly to get rid of the pesticide residues. The proper and recommended ways can be any of the following:

1. Wash your produce on running water.
2. Scrub the skin briskly but firmly.
3. Spray with vinegar and water solution.

Although the facts in this news were based on the study conducted in the United States, most of these fruits and vegetables can be easily found elsewhere. Hence, it is important that everyone takes precautions. It doesn’t need much time to wash and clean our fruits and vegetables properly before eating them so there’s no harm if we follow this simple rule. Let's all practice food safety.