I make a point of eating organically-grown food because it is better for me, the farmworkers and the planet.
However, I realize not everyone is fortunate enough to have a great farmers market nearby, or a family who is willing to eat seasonally.
Since it is always better to eat non-organic produce than to avoid fruits and vegetables, I present here a list of produce which is safe to eat even if not organic.
The list is compiled by the Environmental Working Group, which tests fresh U.S.-grown produce for levels of pesticide residue.
You can find their full report here. They mention that if you choose your daily 5 servings of vegetables from the Clean Fifteen list instead of the Dirty Dozen, you will reduce your pesticide intake by 92 per cent. That's worth doing.
New on the toxic list from last year: spinach, blueberries, potatoes and collard greens. Make sure to find those in the organic section of your supermarket. Grapefruit, mushrooms and cantaloupe are new on the safe to eat even if conventionally-grown list.
Dirty Dozen - eat only if organic
apples
celery
strawberries
peaches
spinach
nectarines - imported
grapes - imported
bell peppers
potatoes
blueberries
lettuce
kale / collard greens
Clean Fifteen - safe to eat even if not organic
onions
sweet corn
pineapples
avocado
asparagus
peas
mangoes
eggplant
cantaloupe
kiwi
cabbage
watermelon
sweet potatoes
grapefruit
mushrooms
I know organic is best, but if you can't resist the super cheap summer fruits and veg at the supermarket one should make sure to wash the stuff thoroughly. Most of the pesticide residue is on the surface of the fruits and veg. I use either “Fit” vegetable wash or “Veggie Wash”. My niece, the biologist, confirmed that this will get rid of most of the chemicals.
ReplyDeleteA lot of pesticide residue is on the surface and can be washed or peeled off. However, many systemic pesticides are used as well. Those remain in the cells of the produce and are not removed by washing or peeling or cooking.
ReplyDeleteIn Europe residues of pesticides were found in milk of nursing mothers.
ReplyDeleteWhen we think to wash away pesticides, the small percentage removed goes to water, so to land, and so back to us.
To wash chemicals with another product seems to me very contradictory, is like to take poison and then the antidote, we will survive but not without consequences,......and the carbon footprint grows.
When a produce, or a product in general, is too cheap we should know something is not right: people or mother earth were exploited.
Many scientists are studying in environments supported by Big Pharma and Big Agra to the point they might not really be able anymore to see what is good for the Earth.
Have an organic life, it is right for the Earth, for the People, and for us.
Hi Adriana, You are so right. Thanks for reading my blog and for commenting.
ReplyDelete