Pesticides in production: 2023’s Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 fruits and vegetables

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Blueberries, beloved by nutritionists for their anti-inflammatory properties, have joined fiber-rich green beans in this year’s Dirty Dozen of non-organic products with the most pesticides, according to the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit environmental health organization.

In the 2023 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, researchers analyzed test data on 46,569 samples of 46 fruits and vegetables conducted by the US Department of Agriculture. Each year, a rotating list of produce is tested by USDA staff who wash, peel or scrub fruits and vegetables as consumers would before the food is screened for 251 different pesticides.

As of 2022, strawberries and spinach continued to hold the top two spots on the Dirty Dozen, followed by three greens—kale, kale and mustard. Next listed were peaches, pears, nectarines, apples, grapes, peppers and cherries. Blueberries and green beans were 11th and 12th on the list.

A total of 210 pesticides were found on the 12 foodstuffs, the report states. Kale, kale and mustard greens contained the greatest number of different pesticides – 103 types – followed by hot and peppers with 101.

“Some of the USDA’s tests show traces of pesticides long ago banned by the Environmental Protection Agency. Much stricter federal regulation and oversight of these chemicals is needed, the report says.

“Pesticides are toxic by design,” said Jane Houlihan, former senior vice president of research for EWG. She was not involved in the report.

“They are intended to harm living organisms, and this inherent toxicity has implications for children’s health, including the potential risk of hormone dysfunction, cancer and damage to the developing brain and nervous system,” said Houlihan, who is now director of research for Healthy Babies, Bright Futures, a organization dedicated to reducing babies’ exposure to neurotoxic chemicals.

However, there is good news. Concerned consumers may consider choosing conventionally grown vegetables and fruits from EWG’s Clean 15, a list of crops that tested lowest in pesticides, the report said. Almost 65% of the foods on the list had no detectable levels of pesticides.

Avocado topped 2023’s list of least contaminated produce again this year, followed by sweet corn in second place. Pineapple, onion and papaya, frozen sweet peas, asparagus, honeydew melon, kiwi, cabbage, mushrooms, mango, sweet potatoes, watermelon and carrots made up the rest of the list.

Being exposed to a variety of pesticide-free foods is especially important during pregnancy and throughout childhood, experts say. Developing children need the combined nutrients, but are also more severely affected by pollutants such as pesticides.

“Exposure to pesticides during pregnancy may lead to an increased risk of birth defects, low birth weight, and fetal death,” noted the American Academy of Pediatrics. “Exposure in childhood has been linked to attention and learning problems, as well as cancer.”

The AAP suggests parents and caregivers Consult the shopper’s guide if they are concerned about their child’s exposure to pesticides.

Houlihan, director of Healthy Babies, Bright Futures, agreed: “Any choice to reduce pesticides in the diet is a good choice for a child.”

Nearly 90% of blueberry and green bean samples had concerning findings, the report said.

In 2016, the last time green beans were inspected, samples contained 51 different pesticides, according to the report. The latest round of testing found 84 different pesticides, and 6% of the samples tested positive for acephate, an insecticide that was banned from use on the vegetable in 2011 by the EPA.

“A sample of non-organic green beans had acephate at a level 500 times higher than the limit set by the EPA,” said Alexis Temkin, a toxicologist at the EWG with expertise in toxic chemicals and pesticides.

When last tested in 2014, blueberries contained over 50 different pesticides. Testing in 2020 and 2021 found 54 different pesticides – about the same amount. Two insecticides, phosmet and malathion, were found in nearly 10% of blueberry samples, although levels declined over the past decade.

Acephate, phosmet and malathion are organophosphates, which interfere with the normal functioning of the nervous system, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A high dose of these chemicals can cause difficulty breathing, nausea, slower heart rate, vomiting, weakness, paralysis and seizures, the CDC said. If exposed to small amounts over a long period of time, people “may feel tired or weak, irritable, depressed or forgetful.”

Why should the levels of certain pesticides be higher today than in the past?

“We’re seeing declines in some pesticides since the early ’90s when the Food Quality Protection Act was enacted,” Temkin said. “But we’re also seeing increases in other pesticides that have been substituted in their place, which may not be safer. That’s why there’s a push towards overall reductions in pesticide use.”

Chris Novak, president and CEO of CropLife America, a trade association, told CNN that the report “intentionally misrepresented” the USDA data.

“Farmers use pesticides to control insects and fungal diseases that threaten the health and safety of fruits and vegetables,” Novak said via email. “Misinformation about pesticides and different growing methods creates hesitation and confusion, resulting in many consumers choosing to skip fresh produce altogether.”

The Institute of Food Technologists, a trade association, told CNN that the emphasis should be on meeting the legal limits for pesticides established by substantial scientific consensus.

“We all agree that the best-case scenario for pesticide residues would be as close to zero as possible, and there should continue to be science-based efforts to further reduce pesticide residues,” said Bryan Hitchcock, IFT’s Chief Science and Technology Officer.

Many fruits and vegetables with higher levels of pesticides are essential to a balanced diet, so don’t give them up, experts say. Instead, avoid most pesticides by choosing to eat organic versions of the most contaminated crops. While organic foods are not more nutritious, the majority have little or no pesticide residues, Temkin said.

“If a person switches to an organic diet, the level of pesticides in their urine decreases rapidly,” Temkin told CNN. – We see it time and time again.

If organic isn’t available or too expensive, “I would definitely recommend peeling and washing thoroughly with water,” Temkin said. “Stay away from detergents or other advertised goods. Rinsing with water will reduce pesticide levels.”

Additional tips on washing produce, provided by the US Food and Drug Administration, include: