At a recent green conference I was handed a little magnetic guide for my refrigerator. It listed which fruits and veggies have tested the highest in pesticides straight off the shelf and which ones are the lowest. Awesome!
This guide is created and distributed through the Environmental Working Group (EWG) which is a truly amazing not-for-profit organization that is educating and protecting public health. Most specifically, the EWG wants to eliminate toxic foods and toxic living.
According to EWG’s website, “EWG research has found that people who eat the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables consume an average of 10 pesticides a day. Those who eat the 15 least contaminated conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables ingest fewer than 2 pesticides daily.”
Discovering the “Shopper’s Guide To Pesticides” is an enormous assist for those of us who want to keep toxic products away from our families. EWG analysts utilized data from almost 87,000 residual pesticide tests in produce. This data was collected by the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food and Drug Administration between 2000 and 2007.
The Guide helps consumers make informed choices to lower their dietary pesticide load. Remember that simply rinsing your produce does NOT eliminate pesticides completely. Washing with soap AND water helps the most. Some pesticides also remain inside the produce as it is taken in during growth.
Contact the Environmental Working Group (EWG) for further information and education on how pesticide’s touch your family directly.
Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com
Thank you for sharing this important information. For a brief time I thought I was allergic to strawberries because every time I ate the ones from a certain grocery store I would break out in a horrible rash. Turns out I can eat all the organic strawberries I want; I was actually allergic to whatever pesticide those other strawberries were sprayed with. If you can't buy local or organic, buyer beware and wash 'em well!
Posted by: Julie | June 19, 2009 at 06:24 AM
Thank you! I'll definitely get this one from the EWG. It's good to know the worst offenders in case organic produce is unavailable.
Posted by: TheAL | June 18, 2009 at 01:55 PM