The dirty dozen list only reflects measurable pesticide residues on the parts of the foods normally consumed (i.e. after being washed and peeled).
Can't find organic versions of these foods? Opt for safer alternatives that contain similar valuable vitamins and minerals. It's also important to remember that this dirty dozen list provides no information about antibiotics or hormones, or about the impact of producing food on the surrounding environment. There are always clean foods that you don’t have to buy organic, I will post about those next.
For overall environmental impact, meat is the king of foods, even if it's not likely to be laced with pesticide residue... though a recent USDA Inspector General report found that the government is failing to even test meat for the harmful chemicals the law requires. While beef muscle is typically clean, beef fat is a different story altogether, with 10 different pesticides having been identified. Pork meat can be contaminated, but pork fat is more contaminated, with as many as 8 pesticides. For chicken, the thigh is most contaminated.
Raising animals with conventional modern methods often means using hormones to speed up growth, antibiotics to resist disease on crowded feed lots, and both pesticides and chemical fertilizers to grow the grain fed to the animals. Additionally, it takes many times the water and energy to raise one meal's worth of meat than it does one meal's worth of grain.
Consumers looking to avoid meats raised with these substances can seek out certified organic meat. To meet USDA standards, this meat can come only from animals fed organic feed and given no hormones or antibiotics. Searching out cuts from grass-fed animals ensures that you're eating meat from an animal that was fed a more natural diet, and looking for a local source of meats lets you question the farmer directly about the animal's diet and the farmer's method of raising it. It cuts down on the environmental cost of transportation, too. Search for local butchers and delis in your area and ask them where they get their meat from. We found a great place close to our home that carries only natural and organic local meats.
Pesticides and other man-made chemicals have been found in human breast milk, so it should come as no surprise that they have been found in dairy products, too. Twelve different pesticides have been identified in milk, and milk is of special concern because it is a staple of a child's diets.
Organic dairies cannot feed their cows with grains grown with pesticides, nor can they use antibiotics or growth hormones like rGBH or rbST. The overall impact of the herd is lessened when you choose organic milk. We don’t drink cow milk, we choose to drink Almond milk or Rice milk, if you haven’t tried it I highly suggest it. It is a healthier alternative to cow milk and tastes quite yummy. Or try making your own Almond milk!
We don’t drink coffee on a regular basis but I have organic fair trade in my pantry for when guests come over. Many of the beans you buy are grown in countries that don't regulate use of chemicals and pesticides. Look for the USDA Organic label to ensure you're not buying beans that have been grown or processed with the use of potentially harmful chemicals.
Go a step or two further, and look for the Fair Trade Certified and Rainforest Alliance (or Bird Friendly) labels to ensure that your purchase supports farmers who are paid fairly and treated well. And look for shade-grown (Rainforest Alliance- or Bird Friendly-certified) varieties for the trifecta; that way you know the coffee is being grown under the canopy of the rainforest, leaving those ancient trees intact, along with the wildlife – particularly songbirds – that call them home.
Celery has no protective skin, which makes it almost impossible to wash off the chemicals that are used on conventional crops.
Can't find organic? Safer alternatives include broccoli, radishes and onions.
A perennial entrant on the Dirty Dozen list, 64 pesticides detected in residue on this veggie make celery rank No. 1 in the 2010 analysis, up from No. 4 in 2009.
By far one of my favorite fruits. When I think of peaches I think of the okanagan (interior of BC), stopping at the fruit stand and buying boxes of fresh and juicy peaches! Be careful, they may look good but multiple pesticides are regularly applied to these delicately skinned fruits in conventional orchards.
Can't find organic? Safer alternatives include watermelon, tangerines, oranges and grapefruit.
Peaches, No. 1 on the Dirty Dozen list in 2009, rank No. 2 in 2010; 62 pesticides have been detected in residue on peaches.
If you buy strawberries out of season, they're most likely imported from countries that use less-stringent regulations for pesticide use. Not to mention environmentally think of the carbon footprint those strawberries are leaving. If you are able to grow your own you can freeze them and have organic strawberries year long.
Can't find organic? Safer alternatives include kiwi and pineapples.
Up from No. 6 in 2009, strawberries rank No. 3 on the 2010 Dirty Dozen list. Why? 59 pesticides have been detected in residue on strawberries.
Like peaches, apples are typically grown with the use of poisons to kill a variety of pests, from fungi to insects. Scrubbing and peeling doesn't eliminate chemical residue completely, so it's best to buy organic when it comes to apples. Peeling a fruit or vegetable also strips away many of their beneficial nutrients.
Can't find organic? Safer alternatives include watermelon, bananas and tangerines.
Down from No. 2 in 2009, apples still rank among the dirtiest fruits and vegetables, with 42 different pesticides having been detected as residue.
New on the Dirty Dozen list in 2010, blueberries aren't just high in antioxidants they are also treated with as many as 52 pesticides, making them one of the dirtiest berries on the market.
With 33 different types of pesticides found on nectarines, they rank up there with apples and peaches among the dirtiest tree fruit.
Can't find organic? Safer alternatives include, watermelon, papaya and mango.
Peppers have thin skins that don't offer much of a barrier to pesticides. They're often heavily sprayed with insecticides. These aren’t cheap either, I found organic red peppers but they were $4.00 each!! That is just wrong! I think I will be using other veggies in my stirfrys from now on.
Can't find organic? Safer alternatives include green peas, broccoli and cabbage.
Tests have found 49 different pesticides on sweet bell peppers.
New on the list for 2010, spinach can be laced with as many as 48 different pesticides, making it one of the most contaminated green leafy vegetable.
Traditionally kale is known as a hardier vegetable that rarely suffers from pests and disease, but it was found to have high amounts of pesticide residue when tested this year.
Can't find organic? Safer alternatives include cabbage, asparagus and broccoli.
Even locally grown cherries are not necessarily safe. In fact, in one survey in recent years, cherries grown in the U.S. were found to have three times more pesticide residue then imported cherries.
Can't find organic? Safer alternatives include raspberries and cranberries.
Government testing has found 42 different pesticides on cherries.
America's popular spud re-appears on the 2010 dirty dozen list, after a year hiatus. America's favorite vegetable can be laced with as many as 37 different pesticides. My favorite being organic red potatoes, they are so tasty and can be prepared any which way.
Can't find organic? Safer alternatives include eggplant, cabbage and earthy mushrooms.
Imported grapes run a much greater risk of contamination than those grown domestically only imported grapes make the 2010 Dirty Dozen list). Vineyards can be sprayed with different pesticides during different growth periods of the grape, and no amount of washing or peeling will eliminate contamination because of the grape's thin skin. Remember, wine is made from grapes, which testing shows can harbor as many as 34 different pesticides.
Can't find organic? Safer alternatives include kiwi and raspberries.
Happy Organic Shopping!
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