Spinach, kale, strawberry: in which 'healthy' products too many pesticides

If you are looking for an excuse not to eat spinach or kale, then here it is. These products are named among a dozen other “healthy” fruits and vegetables, the content of pesticides in which can be dangerous to your health.

Фото: Depositphotos

Leafy greens ranks second and third in the “dirty dozen” of harmful products, compiled by the Working Group on Environmental Protection, writes USA Today. Strawberries lead the list of fruits and vegetables with the highest amount of pesticides, while nectarines and apples complete the top five products in which traces of pesticides are most often found.

The team found that more than 90% of strawberry, apple, cherry, spinach, nectarine and cabbage samples tested positive for two or more pesticides, and several cabbage samples indicated 18 pesticides.

“Nearly 70% of produce sold in the United States comes with pesticide residues,” according to the Buyer’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, which analyzes USDA research data.

“Dirty Dozen”: leading products in pesticide content

1. Strawberries
2. Spinach
3. Cabbage kale
4. Nectarine
5. Apple
6. Grapes
7. Peach
8. Cherry
9. Pear
10. A tomato
11. Celery
12. Potato

The organization advises to eat organic products.

According to Nielsen, 7% fruit and 11% vegetables sold in the US in 2018 were environmentally friendly. The same can be said about 15% of frozen fruit sold and 5% of frozen vegetables.

The working group refers to studies that show the relationship of pesticide-contaminated products with the possible development of cancer, fertility disorders and neurological problems.

Activists also offered a Pure 15 rating, which lists products with the lowest pesticide content. The top five include avocados, sweet corn, pineapples, frozen sweet peas and onions.

Pesticides were found in less than 1% samples of avocado and sweet corn. In general, more than 70% "Pure 15" did not contain pesticides at all.

"Clean 15": foods with the least or no pesticides

1. Avocado
2. Sweet corn
3. Pineapple
4. Frozen Sweet Peas
5. Bow
6. Papaya
7. Eggplant
8. Asparagus
9. Kiwi
10. White cabbage
11. Cauliflower
12. Cantaloupe melon
13. Broccoli
14. mushrooms
15. Honey melon

In December, the United States Department of Agriculture released its pesticide data for 2017 a year and called food supplies to the United States "among the safest in the world." The ministry said: “More than 99% of the samples tested contained pesticide residues well below the control levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency.”

The data were obtained from tests of fresh and processed foods, including fruits, vegetables, honey, milk and bottled water.

The calculations for the Guide are based on an analysis of more than 40 900 samples taken by the federal government over the past year or two, since not every product is tested annually.

Theresa Thorn, a spokeswoman for the California Food and Agriculture Alliance, called the quantity of pesticides in traditionally grown farm and organic products "very low." However, she did not fully agree with the position of the Group.

“Calling more affordable produce 'dirty' doesn't make any sense,” Thorne said, adding that farmers are “doing everything they can to provide safe fruits and vegetables for their families and consumers.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only one of 10 adults in the US eats enough fruits or vegetables.

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