“Clean and Dirty” fruits/vegetables

Published by Dr Weil , probably also applicable for Israel.

Foods You Don’t Have To Buy Organic: The Clean 15

Foods You Don't Have To Buy Organic | The Clean 15 | Andrew Weil, M.D. 2 MIN

I am pleased to have an ongoing partnership with the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit organization that advocates for policies that protect global and individual health. Specifically, I am honored to help EWG spread the word about one of its most valuable pieces of research – its Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce. The 2021 version is based on the results of ongoing pesticide tests performed on produce and collected by federal agencies.

Nearly all of the data used took into account how people typically wash and prepare produce – for example, apples were washed and bananas peeled before testing. Of the fruit and vegetable categories tested, the following “Clean 15” foods had the lowest pesticide load, and consequently are the safest conventionally grown crops to consume from the standpoint of pesticide contamination:

The Clean 15 (2021)

  • Avocados
  • Sweet corn*
  • Pineapples
  • Onions
  • Papayas*
  • Sweet peas (frozen)
  • Eggplants
  • Asparagus
  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Kiwis
  • Cauliflower
  • Mushrooms
  • Honeydew melons
  • Cantaloupes

* A small amount of sweet corn, papaya and summer squash sold in the United States is produced from genetically modified seeds. Buy organic varieties of these crops if you want to avoid genetically modified produce.

Why should you care about pesticides in your fruits and vegetables? The EWG points out that there is a growing consensus in the scientific community that small doses of pesticides and other chemicals can have adverse effects on health, especially during vulnerable periods such as fetal development and childhood.

Here’s a video in which I address the importance of avoiding pesticides.

To this list, I would add one caveat: When it comes to pesticide use, there is more to consider than just the residues that are ingested by the consumer. Although peeled foods such as mangoes, avocados and kiwis may spare the consumer from significant pesticide exposure, it is possible that large amounts of pesticides and herbicides are used on the farms from which these originate, contaminating groundwater, promoting erosion and otherwise damaging local ecosystems. To help promote the health of the planet as well as your own health, it’s best to buy organic whenever possible, including when you are purchasing the foods listed above.

At the opposite end of the contamination spectrum, check out the list of Foods That You Should Always Buy Organic, also known as the “Dirty Dozen Plus.”

Updated: March, 22, 2021

SOURCE:
ewg.org/foodnews/clean_fifteen_list.php

Reviewed by Benjamin S. Gonzalez, M.D., May, 2016. Updated, March, 2021

Foods You Should Always Buy Organic: The Dirty Dozen

Foods You Should Buy Organic | The Dirty Dozen Plus | Andrew Weil, M.D. 1 MIN

I am pleased to have an ongoing association with the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit organization that advocates for policies that protect global and individual health. Specifically, I help EWG spread the word about one of its most valuable pieces of research – its Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce. The 2021 version is based on the results of ongoing pesticide tests performed on produce and collected by federal agencies.

Nearly all of the data used took into account how people typically wash and prepare produce – for example, apples were washed and bananas peeled before testing. The following “Dirty Dozen” had the highest pesticide load, making them the most important to buy organic versions – or to grow them organically yourself.

The Dirty Dozen (2021)

Why should you care about pesticides? The EWG points out that there is a growing consensus in the scientific community that small doses of pesticides and other chemicals can have adverse effects on health, especially during vulnerable periods such as fetal development and childhood. Here’s a video in which I address the importance of avoiding pesticides.

Also keep in mind that maintaining your family’s health is not the only reason to choose organic food. Pesticide and herbicide use contaminates groundwater, ruins soil structures and promotes erosion, and may be a contributor to “colony collapse disorder,” the sudden and mysterious die-off of pollinating honeybees that threatens the American food supply. Buying or growing organic food is good for the health of the planet.

At the opposite end of the contamination spectrum, check the list of Foods That You Don’t Have to Buy Organic, also known as the “Clean 15.”

Updated: March, 20th, 2021

SOURCE:
ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php

Reviewed by Benjamin S. Gonzalez, M.D., May, 2016. Updated March, 2021