2.20.2011

Dirty Fruit.

Read an article on Shine for Yahoo this morning about the 10 Dirtiest Fruits in the produce section.  Very interesting, kinda scary...will definitely influence my next shopping trip. 

Organic.  Yes, please.

Here's a condensed version of the article:

Celery::  This stalky vegetable tops the dirty list. Research showed that a single celery stalk had 13 pesticides, while, on the whole, celery contained as many as 67 pesticides. 



Peaches::Peaches are laced with 67 different chemicals, placing it second on the list of most contaminated fruits and vegetables. They have soft fuzzy skin, a delicate structure, and high susceptibility to most pests, causing them to sprayed more frequently.

Strawberries::This red, juicy fruit has a soft, seedy skin, allowing easier absorption of pesticides. Research showed that strawberries contained 53 pesticides. Try to buy strawberries at a local farmer’s market for a sweet dessert.

Apples::Apples are high-maintenance fruit, needing many pesticides to stave off mold, pests, and diseases. The EWG--Environmental Working Group --found 47 different kinds of pesticides on apples, and while produce washes can help remove some of the residue, they’re not 100% effective.

Blueberries (domestic)::These antioxidant-rich berries have a thin layer of skin that allows chemicals to more easily contaminate the fruit. Domestic blueberries were loaded with 13 pesticides on a single sample, according to the EWG. Imported blueberries also made the list at No. 14 for the dirtiest produce.

Sweet bell pepper::
This crunchy, yet thin-skinned, vegetable is highly susceptible to pesticides. According to the EWG, sweet bell peppers showed traces of 63 types of pesticides. While some pesticides can be washed away, many still remain.
Spinach, kale, collard greens::
These leafy green vegetables are on the list, with spinach loaded with 45 different kinds of pesticides and kale 57.

Grapes (imported)::
These tiny fruit have extremely thin skins, allowing for easy absorption of pesticides. And think twice before buying imported wine. The grapes that go into the wine could be coming from vineyards that use too many pesticides.  Very interesting.  Had never even thought of that when buying wine. 
Potatoes::
Have you ever indulged in a potato skin at your favorite restaurant? You might want to think twice before eating the skin. This spud was highly laced with pesticides—36.











Cherries::Cherries, like blueberries, strawberries, and peaches, have a thin coating of skin—often not enough to protect the fruit from harmful pesticides.


2 comments:

  1. This is the very reason I joined an organic foods co-op and had already started shopping locally. Pesticide residue is bad stuff...thanks for the post!

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  2. Oh my! There is really no telling what is inside our bodies after eating the food we eat. SO sad that fruits and veggies can be sold with all that yucky stuff on it! (Sigh) LOVE your background to your blog though...very yummy:)

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