The Dirty Dozen

The Dirty Dozen™ are foods that are most important to buy or grow organic as they have been determined by Environmental Working Group (EWG) to have the heaviest pesticide residue.  EWG is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that educates the consumer and promotes policy change in health and environmental issues.  A guideline to remembering these foods is that they tend to have a soft or permeable exterior.  No need to stop eating these foods; just try to make it a priority to get them organically grown.  The list is updated every year and changes slightly.  This is the list for 2017 with the worst offender being #1:

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

EWG has an app as well as a wallet sized card to keep handy with the Dirty Dozen™ on one side and Clean 15™ on the other.  (See accompanying article on the Clean 15™.)  Check out their website www.ewg.org.

Another great app is "Think Dirty™, Shop Clean".  This free app compares personal and skin care products and rates the amount of potentially toxic ingredients.