Easing back into the blogosphere! An updated "Dirty Dozen v. Clean Fifteen" - organic v. non-organic produce

Wow - very long time since our last blog post!!! We'll make our way back into the blogging world slowly and start off with an updated "dirty dozen, clean fifteen" list.

A few years ago, The Environmental Working Group put out a list of produce more likely (dirty dozen) and less likely (clean fifteen) to retain pesticides and chemicals in traditional produce. Their handy list was meant to serve as a recommendation for produce shoppers choosing between organic and non-organic.

We blogged about this awhile back. The take home message was that some produce items are less susceptible to harmful pesticides so you don't always have to buy organic!

They've updated their list, tweaking the rankings based on updated research. No major changes as far as I can tell! Here it is:


The EWG's intro page has a balanced discussion of organic produce:

• "Pesticides are detected in 7 of every 10 fruit and vegetable samples tested"
• "Buying organic sends a message that you support environmentally friendly farming practices that minimize soil erosion, safeguard water quality and protect wildlife"

However:

• "The health benefits of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables outweigh the risks of pesticide exposure"
• "... recommend eating fruits and vegetables, even conventionally grown, instead of processed foods and other less healthy alternatives"

But you may as well avoid pesticides and chemicals when you can! So if you want the best produce, but also live in the real world where organic isn't always available or affordable, use this short list to help you make buying decisions.

- Erin and Ken