You Need to Know About the Clean 15 & Dirty Dozen
Fruits, vegetables and grains that have been sprayed with pesticides and herbicides can wreak havoc on the body, especially digestive system. Buying 100% organic can be very expensive. We have used the Environmental Working Group's recommendations when purchasing our foods from their yearly studies and publications called the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen.
The Dirty Dozen
The Enviromental Working Group (EWG) tested 46 twelve fruits and vegetables for their levels of pesticide residues. They published their analysis listing 12 fruits and vegetables that were most contaminated with pesticides and that are found to have higher pesticide residues when conventionally grown. These 12 fruits and vegetables are named the Dirty Dozen. There are almost always at least half that seem to stay in this list, that in my family, we choose to only source organically or locally from a farm that does not spray its produce.
Strawberries, grapes, peaches, spinach, greens of different kinds, sweet peppers, cherries and blueberries are some that we do not buy unless they are organically grown (which does not have to mean USDA organic.) If you are buying locally, get to know your grower or better yet, start to grow your own if you are not yet!
Clean Fifteen
The Clean 15 list consists of fifteen fruits and vegetables that tend to have lower pesticide residues even when grown conventionally. Examples on the Clean 15 list often include items like avocados, sweet corn, pineapples, onions, papayas, , eggplants, asparagus, cantaloupes, mushrooms, cabbage, and honeydew melons. But this list changes yearly as farming practices change and growers that supply food to our grocery stores change.
These items are considered safer to consume conventionally if buying organic is not feasible due to cost or availability.
Concern and Peace - A balancing Act
Let me note here, some things on the Clean 15, we choose to still buy organically when possible, for example, onions. The EWG is testing for pesticides. Onions are often grown with the use of fungicides. These seep into the soil and are then taken up in through the roots to the onion growing. Also remember that this list does not mean these Clean 15 are free from pesticides or other chemicals, just the least pesticide residue. If you are able to source and afford organic produce, I recommend you do so as you are able.
Lastly, sometimes the reality of what could be sprayed on our fresh produce can feel overwhelming and I have seen folks become paranoid and not be as apt to grab the fresh fruits and vegetable and consume more foods boxed and bagged or eat out more often. Don’t fall into this trap. Fresh is always better than processed. The amount of chemicals in most processed is alarming.
If you want to check out the 2024 Clean 15, Dirty Dozen Report, you can find it here
Until next time, blessing and wellness to you and yours,
JeriAnne