EWG’s 2018 shopper’s guide to pesticides in produce:

EWG 2018 list of the dirty 12 produce items
EWG's 2018 clean 15 list of produce items

Recent news:

Last week the EWG (that’s the Environmental Working Group) released their 2018 shoppers guide to buying produce with the least amount of pesticides on them. A lot of shoppers don’t realize that pesticides can remain on fresh foods even after washing and peeling.

How the list is created:

The USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) tests samples of conventionally grown foods in the U.S. for pesticides. Each year the EWG does an analysis of recent USDA tests to create a list for us, the consumer, to know which conventionally grown foods contain the most (or the least) amount of toxins.

Why it’s important:

This list helps us make smart choices when we cannot buy 100% organically grown foods.

  • The Dirty dozen is a list of produce items that have been fond to have the most pesticide residue on them. You should look for organic options in these items!
  • The Clean 15 is a list of produce items that have been found to have the least (less than 4) pesticide residue on them. These items are safer to buy as a conventional option.

You can download your own printable list from the EWG here. You can also learn the details about each item and why it made the list.

Did you know that toxins are everywhere? The EWG is one of my favorite resources for learning where hidden toxins are sneaking into my life. They offer resources not only on the foods we eat but also what may be in lurking in our water, home life, and cosmetics!

Learning about the daily exposure we all have to toxins can be a scary process to navigate alone. If you need help recognizing the toxins in your life, or want to know how you can start reducing exposure I would love to help you! Call (206)906-9239 to schedule an appointment.