The US Department of Agriculture has carried out 39 thousand inspections on 47 kinds of fruit and vegetables. Their investigation showed that agricultural products regularly carry close to 70% of pesticide residue. For strawberries, peaches, and nectarines that number can be as high as 98%. Cherries and apples contain at least one kind of pesticide residue.
The non-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG) created lists of the "Dirty Dozen" and the "Clean Fifteen", or the 12 dirtiest and 15 cleanest fruits and vegetables. Strawberries are in the lead on the dirty list, closely followed by spinach and nectarines; avocados and sweet corn have pesticide residues of less than 1%, which puts them in first and second position on the clean list.
Strawberries
This is the third consecutive time that strawberries have come out as the "dirtiest fruit". The EWG calls on consumers to buy organic fruit and vegetables. However, the cereal grain and agricultural industry alliance that represents both organic and inorganic plantations points out that the "Dirty Dozen" lacks a strong basis. The alliance states that data from the US Department of Agriculture and the US Food and Drug Administration shows that 99% of pesticide residue is still "far below the food safety standards that the US Environmental Protection Agency has established."
"Dirty Dozen":
1. Strawberry 2. Spinach 3. Nectarine 4. Apple 5. Grapes 6. Peach 7. Cherry 8. Pear 9. Tomato 10. Celery 11. Potato 12. Sweet pepper
"Clean Fifteen":
1. Avocado 2. Sweet corn 3. Pineapple 4. Cabbage 5. Onion 6. Frozen peas 7. Papaya 8. Asparagus 9. Mango 10. Eggplant 11. Honey melon 12. Kiwi fruit 13. Hami melon 14. Cauliflower 15. Broccoli
Source: Hangzhou Online