The Environmental Working Group came out with an updated Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 a few months ago. Here’s an overview and a link to the new lists.
Apples top the 2013 Dirty Dozen list with the highest pesticide residues for the 3rd year in a row. Cherry tomatoes and hot peppers are new to the list this year, bumping off blueberries and lettuce.
Here are some scary facts about the Dirty Dozen:
- Every sample of imported nectarines tested positive for pesticides.
- 99% of all apple samples tested positive for at least one pesticide.
- The average potato had a much high total weight of pesticides than any other food group.
- A single grape tested positive for 15 different pesticides. The same was true for a single bell pepper.
- Single samples of celery and cherry tomatoes tested positive for 13 pesticides each.
To check out the full Dirty Dozen list as well as the Clean 15 visit the EWG website.
