Kale joins the ranks of the annual 'Dirty Dozen' pesticide list

Posted at 5:16 AM, Mar 21, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-21 07:24:08-04


Since 2004, the group -- a nonprofit, nonpartisan environmental organization -- has annually ranked pesticide contamination in popular fruits and vegetables for its Shopper's Guide, noting those with the highest and lowest concentration of pesticides after being washed or peeled. Pesticides include an array of chemicals that kill unwanted insects, plants, molds and rodents. These chemicals keep pests from destroying produce but also expose humans to residues through their diet. This guide shares the results of the 47 tested fruits and vegetables, so consumers can buy foods with lower amounts of pesticides.



How do pesticides impact health?

While pesticides are used to protect growing fruits and vegetables, they can also endanger humans, per the World Health Organization. Human consumption of pesticides has been shown by studies to be associated with cancer risk, fertility and other health concerns. EWG research analyst Carla Burns explained in statement, "The main route of pesticide exposure for most Americans who do not live or work on or near farms is through their diet." By helping consumers know what foods to be more health-conscious about or to gravitate toward in the grocery store, this guide intends to assist making decisions about the way pesticide regulation impacts health.


Thorne noted a past study in the Journal of Toxicologythat was critical of EWG's Dirty Dozen list, and found that eating organic produce didn't decrease consumer risk. "That's largely because residues are so low, if present at all," she said.


What produce has high amounts of pesticides on the list?

In order of pesticide concentration, 2019's Dirty Dozen list is: strawberries, spinach, kale, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery and potatoes. Among these, kale and spinach contained 1.1 to 1.8 times more pesticide residue in weight than other batches of produce. This list varies, as does pesticide use in agriculture. "The types and amount of pesticides a grower uses is going to depend upon the pests that the grower is dealing with and the weather. Wetter weather will often increase the use of fungicides," says Chris Campbell, EWG's vice president for information technology.

Despite the high pesticide residues of spinach and kale, strawberries have maintained their place at the top of the Dirty Dozen list. Strawberries are popular -- Americans eat an estimated 8 pounds per year -- but the chemicals used to protect and preserve strawberries raise concern and some have been banned by the European Union. The fruit gained its notorious status because of the United States Department of Agriculture concluding strawberries are most likely, among the tested produce, to retain pesticide residues even after being picked and washed.



What produce has low amounts of pesticides?


How can you avoid pesticides?


"The science shows that what people need to know is to eat more fruits and vegetables every day, conventional or organic, choose either. No list needed," said Thorne of the Alliance for Food and Farming.