The Dirty Dozen: Most Heavily Sprayed Foods As consumers become more aware of the dangers associated with chemical pesticides and preservatives in produce, many are trying to adopt a more organic way of eating. While you may not be ready to eat exclusively organic, the next best option is to avoid those fruits and vegetables that are sprayed with pesticides more heavily than others. To help you make the healthiest shopping decisions, we’ve compiled this list of the most pesticide-contaminated foods (based on recent reports from the Environmental Working Group and TheDailyGreen): PEACHES Sprayed with multiple varieties of pesticides. Plus, their delicate skin makes it easy for chemicals to penetrate the skin. APPLES Scrubbing and peeling can’t get all the pesticides off. The heavy waxing of apples also traps pesticides underneath. STRAWBERRIES One EWG report found 36 types of pesticides on strawberries. Out-of-season, imported strawberries are the most risky. GRAPES (ESPECIALLY IMPORTED VARIETIES) Another thin-skinned fruit, sprayed with 35 different pesticides. CHERRIES Pesticides were found on 91% of the cherries tested in the EWG study. NECTARINES Pesticides were found on 97% of the nectarines tested. PEARS A pear’s delicate skin makes it difficult to scrub thoroughly and easy for chemicals to sink in. RED RASPBERRIES Their fuzzy exterior makes it difficult to wash off any of the 39 pesticides used. RED CAPSICUMS Thin skinned and heavily sprayed. CELERY The thin skin of this vegetable is sprayed with 29 varieties of pesticides. SPINACH AND LETTUCES Lettuces are frequently contaminated with what are considered the most potent pesticides used on food. POTATOES In addition to pesticides, potatoes are contaminated with fungicides. TOMATOES Their soft skin is easily penetrated by agricultural contaminants. MILK Non-organic milk contains innumerable pesticides, antibiotics and hormones. ________________________________________ Please realise that you’re only kidding yourself if you think that scrubbing or peeling will remove the toxic pesticides, as they are absorbed from the seedling stage and are in the cellular structure of the plant. Your Health and Well-Being can’t ever be bought cheaply. When you see any produce being sold very cheaply at a supermarket you must realise that the farmer is getting almost nothing for his crop and the only way he can compete is to use every chemical available to cut out labour costs. Highly toxic chemical defoliants are used instead of hand weeding. Artificial fertilisers are used instead of growing “cover crops” that are returned to the soil to decompose and provide food for the plants. Toxic chemical pesticides and insecticides are used instead of smaller plantings of strong and healthy seasonal crops that are nurtured in rich fertile soils. Eat less. Eat seasonally and as locally as possible. Prioritise your week’s food budget and cut out the processed, packaged and lifeless foods. ALWAYS buy only Certified Organic. There is no such category as uncertified organic. It either is the genuine thing or not. Certified is policed, so you can rest assured. Certified Organic is all we do. Clean, healthy, bursting with taste, and full of the nutrients your body needs
Posted on: Fri, 23 Aug 2013 10:09:53 +0000
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