Do you know which conventionally grown foods tend to have the most pesticides and which ones have the least? Below are two lists with the 12 foods that have the most and least amounts of pesticides. Studies have shown that if you eat conventionally grown produce, you can lower your consumption of pesticides by up to 90% simply by choosing from the list of foods with the least amounts pesticides.
These lists were put together by the Environmental Working group (originally published in 2003 and updated as new studies show new results).
The Least Amounts of Pesticides (in order from least to most):
- Onions
- Sweet corn
- Pineapples
- Avocados
- Asparagus
- Frozen sweet peas
- Mangos
- Eggplant
- Cantaloupe
- Kiwi
- Cabbage
- Watermelon
The Greatest Amounts of Pesticides (in order from most to least):
- Apples
- Celery
- Strawberries
- Peaches
- Spinach
- Imported nectarines
- Imported grapes
- Sweet bell peppers
- Potatoes
- Blueberries
- Lettuce
- Kale
If you are fans of the foods in the second list and eat them often like we do, we recommend buying them organic. Or if you are easing into buying organic foods start by choosing produce from the second list. Even if you have never considered buying organic, it likely makes sense for health reasons to switch to organic if you often eat foods off the second list. This way you can eliminate the foods that contain the most pesticides, eliminating a significant amount of chemicals from your diet without sacrificing foods you like.
Do you buy certain foods that are grown conventionally and others that are grown organically? How do you choose which organic foods you will buy?