“Dirty Dozen” produce…yikes on the pesticides!

I was shocked to read the following:  “Each year, nearly 2,000 Manitobans are diagnosed
with a cancer related to an unhealthy diet, and nearly 30% of all cancers diagnosed are
weight-related.”  (Source:  www.cancercare.mb.ca)

Check out this “dirty dozen” list of produce and try to go organic and local when possible
for at least these ones!

RANK	FRUIT OR VEGGIE
1 (worst)	Peaches
2	Apples
3	Sweet Bell Peppers
4	Celery
5	Nectarines
6	Strawberries
7	Cherries
8	Lettuce
9	Grapes – Imported
10	Pears
11	Spinach
12	Potatoes

Source:  Environmental Working Group http://www.foodnews.org/

News Coverage

CNN: ‘Dirty Dozen’ produce carries more pesticide residue, group says

CNN, Sanjay Gupta and Danielle Dellorto
Published June 1, 2010

(CNN) — If you’re eating non-organic celery today, you may be ingesting 67 pesticides
with it, according to a new report from the Environmental Working Group.

The group, a nonprofit focused on public health, scoured nearly 100,000 produce pesticide reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to determine what fruits and vegetables we eat have the highest, and lowest, amounts of chemical residue.

Most alarming are the fruits and vegetables dubbed the “Dirty Dozen,”
which contain 47 to 67 pesticides per serving. These foods are believed to be most susceptible
because they have soft skin that tends to absorb more pesticides.

“It’s critical people know what they are consuming,” the Environmental Working Group’s Amy Rosenthal said. “The list is based on pesticide tests conducted after the produce was washed with USDA high-power pressure water system. The numbers reflect the closest thing to what consumers are buying at the store.”

Story highlights:                                                                                                                                     Studies have found associations between pesticides and health problems.
What is a pesticide?                                                                                                                                                                                                       Can small amounts hurt you?                                                                                                                                                                                    Can pesticides be washed away?

Read the full story and watch Dr. Gupta’s reporting on the new Shopper’s Guide here:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/06/01/dirty.dozen.produce.pesticide/index.html