Janet Hackert, Nutrition and Health Education Specialist, Harrison County, University of Missouri Extension
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) updated their Shopper’s Guide to Pesticide in Produce, with its worst findings listed as the “Dirty Dozen” and those least contaminated as the “Clean Fifteen.” This report is intended to help consumers choose wisely when buying and eating produce.
The group looked at the most recent data collected from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration in 2013. The commonly consumed produce was then ranked based on six factors, including percent of samples tested with detectable pesticides, percent of samples with two or more pesticides, and average amount of all pesticides found (measured in parts per million).
For the “Dirty Dozen” and “Clean Fifteen” lists, as well as additional findings and recommendations, see the full version of this article at http://missourifamilies.org/
