They’re followed on the list by leafy greens — kale, collard, and mustard — nectarines, apples, grapes, bell and hot peppers, cherries, peaches, pears, celery, and tomatoes. “Everyone should eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, no matter how they’re grown,” said Alexis Temkin, PhD, an ecologist at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), in a statement. “But shoppers have the right to know what potentially toxic substances are found on these foods, so they can make the best choices for their families,” Dr. Temkin said. Whole fruits and vegetables are packed with healthy nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. A diet rich in fruits and veggies can have a wide range of health benefits, including lower blood pressure, a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke, and smaller chance of developing certain cancers, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Most adults should eat 1.5 to 2 cups of fruit and 2 to 3 cups of vegetables each day, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But only 1 in 8 people eat enough fruit, and just 1 in 10 people consume enough vegetables, the CDC notes. Instead of cutting certain fruits and vegetables out of your diet, eat organic when you can and consider buying fruits and vegetables that top the EWG’s “Clean Fifteen” list of produce with the least amount of toxic chemicals. This includes avocados, sweet corn, pineapple, onions, papaya, sweet peas, asparagus, honeydew melon, kiwi, cabbage, mushrooms, cantaloupe, mangoes, watermelon, and sweet potatoes. To assess pesticide levels in fruits and vegetables, EWG researchers looked at the results of tests done on almost 45,000 produce samples by the USDA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Produce is washed, scrubbed, and peeled before testing to mimic how consumers might prepare foods in their own kitchens. Pesticide residue was found on more than 70 percent of the non-organic produce, EWG reported. Nearly all the produce had pesticide residue levels below limits set by U.S. regulators. The health risks of pesticides vary depending on the type, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Some can impact the brain and nervous system, leading to cognitive and motor deficits. Others can cause cancer. And there are also some that disrupt normal hormone production, contributing to metabolic disorders and fertility issues.
