Whether you always opt for organic or buy certain kinds of conventional produce, you have the right to know about the levels of pesticides used to grow these foods, and you also have a right to know the risks involved.
According to a Environmental Working Group (EWG) press release out this week, “the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has failed to tell Americans – as required under federal law – that they have a right to know about the risks of pesticide exposure and ways they can reduce pesticides in their diets. Because the EPA has not complied in full with the Congressional mandate, for more than a decade EWG has stepped in to fill the void by publishing its Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce.”
This guide, published annually, can help consumers find conventional produce – whether people are opting for it for financial or accessibility reasons – with the lowest levels of pesticide levels, with the best called “The Clean Fifteen.” It also helps to illuminate produce with extremely high levels of pesticide residue, with the top 12 deemed as “The Dirty Dozen.”
Here are the full lists for 2014. Note that apples top the EWG’s list for several years running now — ALWAYS opt for organic for this food, and try for organic as much as possible for the other 11 listed here!
![Foods You Should Buy Organic in 2014 [INFOGRAPHIC]](https://i0.wp.com/www.onegreenplanet.org/wp-content/uploads//2014/05/Foods-You-Should-Buy-Organic-2014.jpg?ssl=1)
Lead image source: Wikimedia Commons
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Really good tips, my family try to eat organic as much as possible, we visit different farms to get organic food. The taste is much better!
Great list! Except I have to disagree with buying conventional corn. Although conventional corn may be low in pesticides, it will very most likely be GMO. Something like 90+% of conventional corn is GMO. In fact, the probable reason why conventional corn is tested low in pesticides is because it has been genetically modified to produce its own pesticide, called bt-toxin, which literally liquifies the internal organs of the insects who ingest it. (yummy) Buying organic corn is the only way to avoid this, until GMO labeling is made into law. (or look for the non-gmo project verified label) for products containing corn ingredients.
Also, I would add soybeans, and likewise soy products, to the list of the dirty dozen. Most conventional soy is also GMO. Known as \’round-up ready soy\’, it has been genetically modified to withstand large amounts of the pesticide known as Round-up, which would kill a normal, (non-gmo) soybean plant.
I\’m sure many of you already know this information, but I just had to comment. Otherwise, thank you for the great information. Love the website!