For the fourth year, strawberries top EWG’s (Environmental Working Group) Dirty Dozen list for the most pesticide residues. That’s more than 20 pesticides in one strawberry! But, the most surprising find on this year’s list is the popular health food kale, which is now among the most contaminated fruits and vegetables. Because kale has become popular, food industry is using cheap but dangerous ways to sell them for more money.

 

Strawberries
Americans eat about eight pounds of fresh strawberries per year—and with them, dozens of pesticides, including chemicals that have been linked to cancer and reproductive damage, that have been banned in Europe and other countries.

 

Kale
Nearly 60 percent of kale samples sold in the U.S. were contaminated with residues of dacthal, a possible cancer-causing pesticide. On average, kale contains 5.6 different pesticides and up to 18 different residues on a single sample!

 

Remember
that pesticides just don’t contaminate food, but our soil, water, air, farm animals and wildlife, which we depend on to balance the ecosystem for our survival. So by buying organic foods, we are reducing toxins to protect our health and the planet, and making a statement to the giant food industries that consumers hold purchasing power, and they cannot exist without us.

 

To Do
Buy organic, non GMO, and local food as much as possible. They have become increasingly affordable and are widely available in mainstream grocery stores and big box stores that sell in bulk with discounts.  Organic frozen foods are also an economical choice. And remember, washing them or boiling does not remove pesticides. With a lot of nutrients on the skin of the fruits and veggies, it’s important to eat the whole food for our health.

 

Not Convinced?
Take a can of insecticide in your home and spray on a strawberry or any produce 12 times or more and see if you can eat it. The commercial pesticide is much stronger, and the bugs, now called super bugs because they become resistant to stronger pesticides every year are flourishing. So, pesticide is not the answer. Organic farming has been used for centuries. So, support them and remember we have the right to clean and healthy food and the environment.

 

 

Dirty Dozen List 2019

Strawberries
Kale
Spinach
Nectarines
Apples
Grapes
Peaches
Cherries
Pears
Tomatoes
Celery
Potatos
Hot peppers