The latest news is that strawberries are going to get a little more toxic. In California, where over 80% of the nation’s strawberries are grown, a cancer-inducing chemical was just approved for use in growing strawberries. Methyl iodide is a chemical that is used to intentionally induce cancer in lab animals. Strawberries absorb pesticides so no amount of washing is going to completely eliminate the chemicals. In addition, field workers will be exposed to large amounts of the chemical.
It’s best to buy organic as often as possible but this can get expensive. How can consumers know which fruits to always buy organic and which conventional fruits and vegetables contain lower levels of pesticide residue? The Environmental Working Group (EWG) recently updated their list of what they call the “Dirty Dozen.” For 15 years, the EWG has come out with this yearly list, ranking 50 popular fruits and vegetables for pesticide contamination. The fruits and vegetables were tested after being washed, rinsed or peeled.
The Dirty Dozen
Below are the 12 biggest offenders for chemical contamination. To lower pesticide consumption try to buy organic for the following fruits and vegetables.
- celery
- peaches
- strawberries
- apples
- blueberries
- nectarines
- bell peppers
- spinach
- kale
- cherries
- potatoes
- grapes (imported)
The Clean 15
Buying all organic can get expensive but several fruits and vegetables contain lower levels of pesticides. Several of the options below have a thick skin that protects them from pesticide residue.
- onions
- avocados
- sweet corn
- pineapple
- mangoes
- sweet peas
- asparagus
- kiwi
- cabbage
- eggplant
- cantaloupe
- watermelon
- grapefruit
- sweet potatoes
- honey dew melons
A great way to find out exactly where food is coming from is to go to farmers’ markets. Another option is to start a garden.
Conventional strawberries are currently sprayed with methyl bromide, a pesticide that has caused adverse health and environmental effects. With this new pesticide a half-mile “buffer zone” (up from the US Environmental Protection Agency’s quarter-mile standard) is going to be applied to schools, hospitals, nursing homes and day-care centers. This information alone implies that this new chemical is even more harmful than methyl bromide. Unfortunately, the largest pesticide manufacturer in the world, Arysta LifeScience, has a lot of power. There is still a chance that the chemical will be banned but time is running out and unless people speak up this dangerous chemical will come into contact with produce.
Caitlin Sessa - After graduating from the University of Oregon's School of Journalism, Caitlin settled into a job at a magazine only to discover that she ...
