Pesticides & Foods

Pesticides: The 12 Most Tainted Food
By DietBlog

Some fruit and vegetables have more pesticide residues than others.
Buying organic is a great way to go - but availability and price factors put many people off.
The following 12 produce items have the highest pesticide residue.

1. Strawberries
2. Bell peppers (green and red)
3. Spinach (tied with number 2)
4. Cherries (grown in the United States)
5. Peaches (grown in Chile)
6. Cantaloupe (grown in Mexico)
7. Celery
8. Apples
9. Apricots
10. Green beans
11. Grapes
12. Cucumbers

It's sobering - but I believe that the health benefits from eating fruits and vegetables outweigh the risks from ingesting the pesticides on them. Washing and peeling can significantly reduce pesticide levels. Buying locally grown and in-season also helps as produce is often treated (with fungicides) to increase shelf-life and for long-distance distribution.

Sources: Environmental Working Group from FDA data, via the Harvard Healthy Eating Guide.