The 2019 Dirty Dozen & Clean 15 lists have just been released ...
What are these lists exactly? Well ...
People often ask me if I always buy everything organic. I’ll be the first to tell you I try my best to do mostly organic, it’s just about impossible to only eat 100% organic 100% of the time !
I like to refer to the Dirty dozen list as my guide ... The 2019 EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™ (aka Dirty Dozen and Clean 15) has just been released and ranks pesticide contamination on 48 popular fruits and vegetables. The guide is based on results of more than 35,200 samples tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration.
The top 15 foods with the least pesticides are called the Clean 15, while the 12 foods with the most pesticides are called the Dirty Dozen.
The Dirty Dozen™ EWG's 2019 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce™:
1. Strawberries2. Spinach
3. Kale
4. Nectarines
5. Apples
6. Grapes
7. Peaches
8. Cherries
9. Pears
10. Tomatoes
11. Celery
12. Potatoes
The Clean 15:
1. Avocados
2. Sweet Corn
3. Pineapple
4. Sweet Peas Frozen
5. Onions
6. Papaya
7. Eggplants
8. Asparagus
9. Kiwi Fruit
10. Cabbage
11. Cauliflower
12. Rockmelons
13. Broccoli
14. Mushrooms
15. Honeydew Melons
These lists are handy to take with you when doing your grocery shop or visiting an organic food market ... whilst the research is US based they provide a great guide to know when to buy organic and when it’s ok to buy conventional. Check out the full lists. Keep in mind, washing your fruit & veggies doesn't necessarily get rid of the pesticides and chemicals as it grows into the entire plant - it is important to wash eveything thoroughly to reduce risk and exposure.
If you read through the full lists there are few common foods that fall somewhere in between, like carrots and banana's for example. I tend to assess if I buy organic based on seasonality and price. When berries are in season, I tend to stock up on organic punnets and freeze them to use when they are not in season & I do the same with banana's - frozen berries and banana's make for a great smoothie!
At the end of the day, eating quality wholefoods and fresh produce is always better than no fruits or veggies at all!
One of the favourite activities I do with my health coaching clients is a trip to the grocery store & organic markets & understanding HOW and WHAT to shop always seems to be the most eye opening experiences for my clients. If you're interested in a complimentary 30 minute chat, get in touch, I would love to go grocery shopping with you too!
Happy Shopping!
Sahha,
Vanessa x