Most/Least Pesticide Laden Produce

 

One of the main reasons that people spend extra money buying organic foods, particularly fresh produce, is to avoid the residue left on it from the use of commercial pesticides. Both synthetic and organic pesticides have been found to have harmful health effects but at doses much higher than those typically found in fruits and vegetables. One study of 1,139 children found a 50–90% increased risk of ADHD in children with the highest urine levels of pesticides. A study of organic pesticides used in gardening found that the use of rotenone was associated with Parkinson’s disease later in life, and both synthetic and organic pesticides have been associated with increased cancer rates at higher levels in lab animals. However, no increased cancer risk has been linked to the small amounts of pesticides in produce.

Still, some of us prefer to be safe now rather than sorry later. Certainly limiting your exposure to pesticide residue in and on what you eat can do you no harm. But are all fruits and vegetables equal? Do some tend to carry higher amounts to your plate than others? It turns out the answer is yes. 

Here are ten foods that seem to have especially high levels of pesticide residues and ten that have very little. For a longer list, you can look here.

Most Contaminated Fruits and Vegetables

1. Strawberries
2. Apples
3. Nectarines
4. Peaches
5. Celery
6. Grapes
7. Cherries
8. Spinach
9. Tomatoes
10. Sweet Bell Peppers

Least Contaminated Fruits and Vegetables

1. Avocados
2. Corn
3. Pineapples
4. Cabbage
5. Sweet Peas – Frozen
6. Onions
7. Asparagus
8. Mangos
9. Papayas
10. Kiwi

If, like me, you regularly consume items on the Most list, this is not a recommendation to stop doing so. As was mentioned, the proven risk is quite small. But you may want to be sure to buy them organically grown. And as with all produce, wash it well under cool water before eating. You are probably perfectly safe buying non-organic for items on the Least list.