Pesticides and Produce : The Clean and The Dirty

In a recent episode of The Bikini Lifestyles Show, our In The News segment discussed current data on pesticides and produce. The article featured in The Orange County Register shared the Environmental Working Group (EWG) annual rating of “conventional foods with the most and least pesticide residues”. Here’s our quick guide:

The Cleanest Produce:
The cleanest foods in produce are those that have the least amount of pesticide residues as found by the EWG.

*Avocados
*Corn
*Pineapple
*Cabbage
*Frozen peas
*Onions
*Asparagus
*Mango
*Papaya
*Kiwi
*Eggplant
*Cantaloupe
*Cauliflower
*Sweet potatoes

Among these, the food with the least amount of pesticides – avocado!

®” width=”500″ height=”313″>

The Dirtiest Produce:
These foods represent those containing more than one variety of pesticide and in the highest concentrations.

*Strawberries
*Apples
*Grapes
*Celery
*Peaches
*Spinach
*Bell Peppers
*Nectarines
*Cucumbers
*Cherry tomatoes
*Snap Peas
*Potatoes

Down and dirty finding… according to the report by the EWG, the average potato “had more pesticides by weight than any other food”. Yet another reason to choose healthier sweet potatoes over baking potatoes.

Wash, scrub, and dry:
To remove as much of the pesticides as possible, always wash fruits and vegetables with water and dry with a clean, lint-free towel, such as a paper towel. For porous fruits and vegetables, it is wise to scrub them with a kitchen brush or even a simple toothbrush.

One more noteworthy note:  the EWG mentions Genetically Engineered crops, or GEs. According to their research, GE food is “NOT often found in the produce section of American supermarkets”.