One of the biggest advantages of buying organic, is that you can avoid the potentially dangerous pesticide and chemical residue  on your fruits and vegetables from commercial agriculture. Due to certain plant resilience, or dependence on specific conditions, some foods are much more heavily contaminated with pesticides. Here you will see the list of the fruits and vegetables you should most avoid purchasing from commercial production as they have the most pesticide residue .

The Dirty Dozen in the United States

According to the Environmental Working group , the Dirty Dozen is the list of fruits and vegetables that have the highest concentration of pesticides after being washed and peeled. The Environmental Working group releases the data they gather every year, to inform the consumers which produce has the highest amount of dangerous chemicals.

The twelve fruits and vegetables you most certainly want to avoid from conventional supermarkets are:

• 1. Kale
• 2. Strawberries
• 3. Spinach
• 4. Nectarines
• 5. Apples
• 6. Grapes
• 7. Peaches
• 8. Cherries
• 9. Pears
• 10. Tomatoes
• 11. Celery
• 12. Potatoes

This list has been created based off samples taken from over 40,900 fruits and vegetables by the USDA  in the United States. Some of the pesticides used, such as the herbicide Dacthal , have been found to cause cancer  in Humans according to Environmental Protection Agency  and therefore have been banned in Europe since 2009. This particular pesticide was found in trace amounts on 70% of all the fruits and vegetables tested. Pesticide residue can be dangerous as many consumers do not properly wash and peel their foods prior to consumption. Some studies found that even water washing does not eliminate all the chemicals left on the produce. This is one of the reasons people have been switching to organic produce. (benefits of eating organic food link here)

Does the United States Findings Relevant to Australia?

While Australia has a reputation of having cleaner and greener food production than the United States, there have been some studies which have found similar conclusions down under. This is because commercial agriculture systems, pesticides, and herbicides  used in both countries are similar, leaving many of the same produce susceptible to pesticide residue. This theory was confirmed in 2011, by the Friends of the Earth . They analysed vegetables and fruit data from the years 2000-2011 gathered by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service. Out of all the produce tested, they found that the following fruits and vegetables had the highest amounts of pesticides.

The 12 fruits and vegetables which have the most pesticides in Australia between the years 2000-2011 were:

• 1. Apples
• 2. Pears
• 3. Strawberries
• 4. Grapes
• 5. Lettuce
• 6. Nectarines
• 7. Peaches
• 8. Tomatoes
• 9. Apricots
• 10. Carrots
• 11. Plums
• 12. Green Beans

As you can see, there is a significant overlap from the dirty dozen in the United States and contaminated Australian produce.

How can you get rid of pesticides from your fruits and vegetables?

The best way to eliminate pesticides from your produce is to opt for organic fruits and vegetables which do not use synthetic chemicals during the cultivation processes.

If you do however purchase any of the dirty dozen from a commercial supermarket, there are a few steps you can take to minimise your exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.

1. All you need to do is to fill a bowl with 4 parts fresh water and 1 part plain white vinegar.

2. Soak the fruits or vegetables in the liquid for at least 20 minutes.

3. Then rinse the fruits and vegetables with fresh water prior to chopping them up and serving.

While this will not eliminate all of the pesticide residue, it will decrease the amount you will be serving to your family.

Keep your family Healthy by buying Organic

To avoid pesticide residue concerns, the best solution is to purchase from local, organic farmers which you can trust to create produce which is healthy not only for you but for our earth. If you would like to know more, simply read about the benefits of eating organic here. Make sure to let us know your thoughts and write down any questions you might have in the comments below.

If you liked this article please share: