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Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
New to the ‘Dirty Dozen' list: Blackberries and potatoes
More than 90% of samples of a dozen fruits and vegetables tested positive for potentially harmful pesticide residues, according to the 2025 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce. Dubbed the 'Dirty Dozen,' the list is compiled from the latest government testing data on nonorganic produce by the Environmental Working Group, or EWG, a health advocacy organization that has produced the annual report since 2004. Spinach topped the list, with more pesticide residue by weight than any other produce tested, followed by strawberries, kale (along with mustard greens and collards), grapes, peaches, cherries, nectarines, pears, apples, blackberries, blueberries and potatoes. The annual report is not meant to discourage consumers from eating fruits and vegetables, which are key to good health, but instead to provide tools for decisions on whether to buy organic for the fruits or vegetables their families consume the most, said Alexis Temkin, EWG's vice president of science. 'The guide is there to help consumers eat a lot of fruits and vegetables while trying to reduce pesticide exposure,' Temkin said. 'One of the things that a lot of peer-reviewed studies have shown over and over again (is) that when people switch to an organic diet from a conventional diet, you can really see measurable levels in the reduction of pesticide levels in the urine.' The Alliance for Food and Farming, which represents organic and conventional produce farmers, has been a long-standing critic of the annual report. 'We strongly support consumer choice when shopping for fruits and vegetables. But this choice should not be influenced by this list,' Teresa Thorne, the alliance's executive director, said in an email. 'Instead consumers should be reassured by decades of toxicology studies, government data and nutrition research which underscores the importance of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables on health and the safety of both organic and conventionally grown produce,' Thorne added. Blackberries were new to the list, having never been tested before by the US Department of Agriculture, while potatoes joined the rankings after being absent in recent years — mainly due to the use of a plant growth regulator called chlorpropham. The chemical has been banned in the European Union, Temkin said. 'It's applied after harvest to essentially prevent potatoes from sprouting while they're in storage or in transit,' Temkin said. 'Because it's applied so late after harvest and so close to when consumers might be exposed or eating potatoes, that's partially what leads to some of these really high concentrations.' More than 50 different pesticides were detected on each of several crops on the Dirty Dozen section of the Shopper's Guide, which was updated this year to measure pesticide toxicity, Temkin said. 'We still have measurements of the detection frequency of pesticides, how many different pesticides are found on produce, as well as the overall concentration. We also have an indicator of that concentration relative to a dose that might cause harm in an animal study,' she said. 'A lot of the Dirty Dozen produce rank really highly when you look at pesticide toxicity, especially relative to the 'Clean Fifteen' items, which have fewer detections of pesticide residues,' Temkin added. As part of the report, EWG also creates an annual 'Clean Fifteen' — a list of conventional produce with the least amount of pesticide residue. Many of these fruits and vegetables are protected by skins you peel before eating — but not all. Pineapple was the least contaminated produce tested, followed by sweet corn (fresh and frozen), avocados, papaya, onions, frozen sweet peas, asparagus, cabbage, watermelon, cauliflower, bananas, mangos, carrots, mushrooms and kiwi. 'An important aspect of the USDA pesticide testing is they really try to mimic consumer behavior. … They wash fruits or vegetables for about 15 or 20 seconds under running water, and then they also peel something like citrus or a mango or a banana,' Temkin said. 'If there are any pesticides on that outer layer, that is removed, and that might be one of the reasons why some of these fruits or vegetables that are on the Clean Fifteen tend to have less detectable pesticide residues.' More tips: All produce, even organic, should be washed before peeling so dirt and bacteria aren't transferred from a knife onto the fruit or vegetable, according to the US Food and Drug Administration. After washing, dry with a clean cloth or paper towel. Firm produce such as carrots, cucumbers, melons and potatoes can be scrubbed with a clean vegetable brush under running water, the FDA said. All other produce can be gently rubbed while being rinsed. There's no need to use bleach, soap or a produce wash — fruits and vegetables are porous and can absorb the chemicals. Remove the outermost leaves of cabbage, lettuce and other leafy greens and rinse each leaf carefully — but don't blast your greens with water, or you'll bruise them. Experts said it's best to use low-pressure water that is warmer than your produce and a colander to spin the greens dry. Don't forget to wash the colander afterward. Exceptions are 'triple-washed' bagged greens, which the FDA said do not need an additional wash. Pesticides have been linked in studies to premature births, congenital malformations such as neural tube defects, spontaneous abortions and an increase in genetic damage in humans. Exposure to pesticides has also been associated with lower sperm concentrations, heart disease, cancer and other disorders. Farmworkers who use or are exposed to pesticides are at highest risk, according to studies. A 2022 meta-analysis found workers exposed to pesticides were nearly five times as likely to have DNA damage, while a February 2024 study concluded children exposed at an early age showed poorer neurodevelopment from infancy to adolescence. Children are the most suspectable to the dangers of pesticides due to their small size and developing body and brain, experts say. The risk can actually begin in the womb. 'Pesticide exposure during pregnancy may lead to an increased risk of birth defects, low birth weight, and fetal death,' according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. 'Exposure in childhood has been linked to attention and learning problems, as well as cancer.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
2025 produce ‘dirty dozen,' ‘clean 15' revealed
Spinach takes top dishonors in the 2025 'Dirty Dozen' list of nonorganic fruits and vegetables with the most pesticide contamination. The "2025 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce" is an annual report by the Environmental Working Group. The group also on Wednesday released its 'Clean 15″ list, noting 60% of those are 'free from harmful pesticides.' Nine in 10 samples on the dirty list contained pesticide residue, the group said. Per the news release, 'The overall toxicity is one of four factors EWG used to assess pesticides on produce. To calculate the overall pesticide toxicity for produce, EWG compared the average concentration of pesticide detected on fruits and vegetables to toxicological reference values – levels below which health harms are not expected." 'The updated methodology reflects important aspects of pesticide exposure for people,' said Dayna de Montagnac, an EWG associate scientist. 'Our research takes into account the potency of each chemical and can help shoppers reduce their overall pesticide burden.' The list has been produced annually for decades, but is not without critics. The Alliance for Food and Farming, which represents organic and conventional produce farmers, sent out a news release noting that the 'dirty dozen list recommendations cannot be substantiated.' 'There is growing concern about the impact of inaccurate safety fears becoming a barrier to increased consumption of produce,' the alliance said. 'One peer-reviewed study found that when low-income consumers were exposed to 'Dirty Dozen" list messaging, they stated they were less likely to purchase any produce — organic or conventional." Alexis Temkin, EWG vice president of science, told CNN the goal is not to get people to skip eating fruits and vegetables, which are important to a nutrient-rich diet. Rather, it's to help families decide whether to buy organic versions of certain fruits or vegetables. 'The guide is there to help consumers eat a lot of fruits and vegetables while trying to reduce pesticide exposure,' Temkin said. 'One of the things that a lot of peer-reviewed studies have shown over and over again (is) that when people switch to an organic diet from a conventional diet, you can really see measurable levels in the reduction of pesticide levels in the urine.' The group said it analyzed 47 items to come up with the 12 it called most contaminated by pesticides. EWG also noted that the analysis didn't include risk assessment, weighting all pesticides equally, nor did it 'factor in the levels deemed acceptable by the EPA.' Spinach Strawberries Kale, collard and mustard greens Grapes Peaches Cherries Nectarines Pears Apples Blackberries Blueberries Potatoes The group said the average American eats about eight pounds of strawberries a year. Blackberries made their debut this year on the dirty dozen, as did potatoes, which are the 'most consumed vegetable in the U.S.' As for No. 1, according to EWG, 'Spinach is a nutrient-rich vegetable, making it a staple for healthy eating. But it also has more pesticide residues by weight than any other type of produce — three-fourths of non-organic, or conventional samples are contaminated with a neurotoxic insecticide, permethrin, which is banned from use on food crops in Europe." EWG said it used tests conducted by the Department of Agriculture to rank the fruits and vegetables. It notes the most recent tests of spinach, however, were conducted in 2016. Asked if that was correct, an EWG spokesman reiterated for Deseret News the methodology in the report: 'This year's guide incorporates data from a total of more than 53,000 samples of 47 fruits and vegetables. EWG uses USDA data for non-organic samples of fruits and vegetables from the most recent sampling periods, which typically spans one to two years for each item. For example, to analyze residues on spinach, we used 1,295 samples the USDA collected between 2015 and 2016, as that's the most recent data range for that type of produce.' EWG also pointed out that most of the pesticides found on conventional spinach samples were 'sanctioned as legal and safe' by the Environmental Protection Agency, but note that permethrin at high doses creates health risks, including increased chance of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children. The items with the least amount of pesticide in the EWG report were: Pineapples Sweet corn (fresh and frozen) Avocados Papaya Onion Sweet peas (frozen) Asparagus Cabbage Watermelon Cauliflower Bananas Mangoes Carrots Mushrooms Kiwi The alliance reported that 'the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Pesticide Data Program consistently finds that over 99% of foods sampled had residue levels well below EPA safety standards with 40% having no detectable residues at all." Still, public health experts say fresh produce should be cleaned, including the fruits and vegetables that have peels that will not be consumed. Advice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for safely consuming produce: Wash your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap before and after handling fresh produce. Cut away damaged or bruised areas before preparing or eating. Rinse produce BEFORE you peel it. Otherwise, that knife could transfer contamination. Gently rub produce while holding under plain running water. You do not need to use soap. Use a clean vegetable brush to scrub produce such as melons and zucchini. Dry produce with a clean cloth or paper towel. That can remove even more bacteria. Remove the outermost leaves of cabbage or lettuce, which are potentially exposed to more contamination. The alliance said not to use soaps or detergents, which can create their own issues.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
New to the ‘Dirty Dozen' list: Blackberries and potatoes
More than 90% of samples of a dozen fruits and vegetables tested positive for potentially harmful pesticide residues, according to the 2025 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce. Dubbed the 'Dirty Dozen,' the list is compiled from the latest government testing data on nonorganic produce by the Environmental Working Group, or EWG, a health advocacy organization that has produced the annual report since 2004. Spinach topped the list, with more pesticide residue by weight than any other produce tested, followed by strawberries, kale (along with mustard greens and collards), grapes, peaches, cherries, nectarines, pears, apples, blackberries, blueberries and potatoes. The annual report is not meant to discourage consumers from eating fruits and vegetables, which are key to good health, but instead to provide tools for decisions on whether to buy organic for the fruits or vegetables their families consume the most, said Alexis Temkin, EWG's vice president of science. 'The guide is there to help consumers eat a lot of fruits and vegetables while trying to reduce pesticide exposure,' Temkin said. 'One of the things that a lot of peer-reviewed studies have shown over and over again (is) that when people switch to an organic diet from a conventional diet, you can really see measurable levels in the reduction of pesticide levels in the urine.' The Alliance for Food and Farming, which represents organic and conventional produce farmers, has been a long-standing critic of the annual report. 'We strongly support consumer choice when shopping for fruits and vegetables. But this choice should not be influenced by this list,' Teresa Thorne, the alliance's executive director, said in an email. 'Instead consumers should be reassured by decades of toxicology studies, government data and nutrition research which underscores the importance of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables on health and the safety of both organic and conventionally grown produce,' Thorne added. Blackberries were new to the list, having never been tested before by the US Department of Agriculture, while potatoes joined the rankings after being absent in recent years — mainly due to the use of a plant growth regulator called chlorpropham. The chemical has been banned in the European Union, Temkin said. 'It's applied after harvest to essentially prevent potatoes from sprouting while they're in storage or in transit,' Temkin said. 'Because it's applied so late after harvest and so close to when consumers might be exposed or eating potatoes, that's partially what leads to some of these really high concentrations.' More than 50 different pesticides were detected on each of several crops on the Dirty Dozen section of the Shopper's Guide, which was updated this year to measure pesticide toxicity, Temkin said. 'We still have measurements of the detection frequency of pesticides, how many different pesticides are found on produce, as well as the overall concentration. We also have an indicator of that concentration relative to a dose that might cause harm in an animal study,' she said. 'A lot of the Dirty Dozen produce rank really highly when you look at pesticide toxicity, especially relative to the 'Clean Fifteen' items, which have fewer detections of pesticide residues,' Temkin added. As part of the report, EWG also creates an annual 'Clean Fifteen' — a list of conventional produce with the least amount of pesticide residue. Many of these fruits and vegetables are protected by skins you peel before eating — but not all. Pineapple was the least contaminated produce tested, followed by sweet corn (fresh and frozen), avocados, papaya, onions, frozen sweet peas, asparagus, cabbage, watermelon, cauliflower, bananas, mangos, carrots, mushrooms and kiwi. 'An important aspect of the USDA pesticide testing is they really try to mimic consumer behavior. … They wash fruits or vegetables for about 15 or 20 seconds under running water, and then they also peel something like citrus or a mango or a banana,' Temkin said. 'If there are any pesticides on that outer layer, that is removed, and that might be one of the reasons why some of these fruits or vegetables that are on the Clean Fifteen tend to have less detectable pesticide residues.' More tips: All produce, even organic, should be washed before peeling so dirt and bacteria aren't transferred from a knife onto the fruit or vegetable, according to the US Food and Drug Administration. After washing, dry with a clean cloth or paper towel. Firm produce such as carrots, cucumbers, melons and potatoes can be scrubbed with a clean vegetable brush under running water, the FDA said. All other produce can be gently rubbed while being rinsed. There's no need to use bleach, soap or a produce wash — fruits and vegetables are porous and can absorb the chemicals. Remove the outermost leaves of cabbage, lettuce and other leafy greens and rinse each leaf carefully — but don't blast your greens with water, or you'll bruise them. Experts said it's best to use low-pressure water that is warmer than your produce and a colander to spin the greens dry. Don't forget to wash the colander afterward. Exceptions are 'triple-washed' bagged greens, which the FDA said do not need an additional wash. Pesticides have been linked in studies to premature births, congenital malformations such as neural tube defects, spontaneous abortions and an increase in genetic damage in humans. Exposure to pesticides has also been associated with lower sperm concentrations, heart disease, cancer and other disorders. Farmworkers who use or are exposed to pesticides are at highest risk, according to studies. A 2022 meta-analysis found workers exposed to pesticides were nearly five times as likely to have DNA damage, while a February 2024 study concluded children exposed at an early age showed poorer neurodevelopment from infancy to adolescence. Children are the most suspectable to the dangers of pesticides due to their small size and developing body and brain, experts say. The risk can actually begin in the womb. 'Pesticide exposure during pregnancy may lead to an increased risk of birth defects, low birth weight, and fetal death,' according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. 'Exposure in childhood has been linked to attention and learning problems, as well as cancer.'
