Dirty Produce - When is it best to buy organic?

In an effort to promote consumption of fruit and vegetables, it is tempting to overlook a small truth. Most commercially grown fruits and vegetables are soaked with pesticides before reaching your mouth.

You may find the following statement on pesticide-treated produce: "there is no conclusive evidence of harm to humans.” However, regulatory agencies often look only at high-dose effects, not the prolonged low-dose effect of consumption over many years.

Quite simply, the lack of evidence for harm is not a complete assurance of safety. It is wise, therefore, to moderate intake of pesticides much like you reduce your intake of saturated fat. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit watchdog organization, recently published a list of the most pesticide-contaminated foods. Foods on the list represent those with the highest likelihood to contain a “detectable” amount of one or more pesticides. This quantity may or may not be enough to cause physical harm when consumed over time. However, Better Living considers it prudent to choose organic forms of these fruits and vegetables to reduce risk.

12 Most Contaminated (worst first)
Choose Organic

1. Peaches
2. Apples
3. Sweet Bell Peppers
4. Celery
5. Nectarines
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Lettuce
9. Imported Grapes
10. Pears
11. Spinach
12. Potatoes

Enviromental Working Group www.foodnews.org

Next week we will highlight the foods with the least risk for pesticide contamination.