Food/Nutrition Columnist
Do Any Fruits Or Vegetables Deserve A Dirty List?
By
Sep 10, 2021 - 5:00:54 PM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - In a word – no. In 1995, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) a US-based environmental advocacy group developed an annual list of fruits and vegetables called the Dirty Dozen. These fruits and vegetables, according to EWG, had the greatest potential for contamination with pesticides. Consumers were told to buy organic forms of these foods to reduce their risk. Is there actually a risk?

This year’s list includes strawberries, spinach, other leafy greens, nectarines, apples, grapes, cherries, peaches, pears, bell and hot peppers, celery, and tomatoes. All of these are commonly eaten fruits and vegetables. When produce is listed on the Dirty Dozen there is flurry of media attention and an impact on the buying decisions of millions of Americans.

Let’s unpeel this onion and take a look at the facts. First, if you wish to buy organic produce for your family, that’s fine. If, however, you are being swayed to make that choice because of the Dirty Dozen, your decision may not be based in actual scientific evidence.

What may surprise many is that there are over 20 chemicals commonly approved for use on organic crops. Organic produce, as well as conventional produce, may have some pesticide residue present. In a well regarded paper, in the Journal of Toxicology, the authors point out that the detections limits for pesticide residue are so sensitive today that they can detect residues far below any concern for toxicity. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has developed a measure for pesticides called the minimum reference dose (RFD), the amount you could ingest daily for the rest of your life without any ill effects.

For all of the foods listed on the Dirty Dozen, the pesticides levels most frequently detected were extremely low. In 75% of the samples the exposure estimates were 0.01% of the RFD. None of the fruits or vegetables had levels above the RFD. The potential for risk from exposure to the detected pesticides on the Dirty Dozen are negligible and would have little impact on a person’s health throughout their life.

To demonstrate how much produce you can consume safely, check out the Pesticide Residue Calculator. A woman could eat 453 strawberries without any effect from pesticide residue. A man could eat 941 grapes without ill effects. A teen could have 952 cherries each day and a child could have 340 apples and still not reach an unsafe level of pesticide intake.

Toxicologists around the world agree that the mere presence of pesticide residues does not mean they pose a health risk. Residues are measured in parts per million (ppm) or parts per billion (ppb), like one blade of grass on the lawn. Plus, according to the FDA, washing produce under running tap water can reduce and often eliminate any pesticide residues, if they are present at all. In the case of banana, the simple act of peeling removes any possible residue.

Eating fruits and vegetables is probably the number one healthy eating practice but sadly one in 10 adults do not eat enough of them daily. Though kids eat more fruit, few eat enough vegetables daily. If the Dirty Dozen is used as the barometer of what not to eat, even fewer servings will be eaten.

Feeding your family well should always be a top priority. Keep it simple. Eat more fruits and vegetables whether they are organic or conventionally grown and don’t worry about a tiny amount of pesticide residue that is not going to harm anyone.

© NRH Nutrition Consultants, Inc.
Jo-Ann Heslin, MA, RD, CDN is a registered dietitian and the author of 30 books.

Available as eBooks from iTunes and Kindle/Amazon:

Diabetes Counter – the most up-to-date information on managing diabetes

Calorie Counter – a weight loss guide that won’t let you down

Protein Counter – put the latest protein recommendations to work for you

Healthy Wholefoods Counter – planet-friendly eating made easy

Complete Food Counter – food counts and nutrition information at your fingertips

Fat and Cholesterol Counter – newest approach to heart-healthy eating

Available in print from Gallery Books:

Most Complete Food Counter, 3rd Ed.

For more information on Jo-Ann and her books, go to: www.TheNutritionExperts.com or on twitter: @JoAnnHeslinRD