By Ashley Curtin

NationofChange / News Report

Published: Saturday 27 April 2013


The Environmental Working Group determined pineapple, papaya,
mango, kiwi, cantaloupe, grapefruit, corn, onion, avocado, frozen
sweet peas, cabbage, asparagus, eggplant, sweet potatoes
and mushrooms as The Clean Fifteen for 2013.
Article image



While pesticide residue is continuously detected in conventional-
grown produce, the Environmental Working Group recently
revealed The Clean Fifteen for 2013. The study determined 15
fruits and vegetables that were the “least likely to test positive
for pesticide residue,” according to the EWG’s website, to help
consumers confidently purchase healthier food.

The study, conducted by EWG—an environmental and health
advocacy organization—and published as the “Shopper’s Guide
to Pesticides in Produce,” categorized the “overall concentrations
of pesticide residues” and revealed the produce that contained
the fewest types of pesticides, if any. EWG determined pineapple,
papaya, mango, kiwi, cantaloupe, grapefruit, corn, onion, avocado,
frozen sweet peas, cabbage, asparagus, eggplant, sweet potatoes
and mushrooms as The Clean Fifteen for 2013.

After being washed and peeled, the study tested and then ranked
the level of pesticide residue on 48 samples of the most “popular”
fruits and vegetables taken from the USDA and FDA.

The methodology included six measures of pesticide
contamination:
  • Percent of samples tested with detectable pesticides
  • Percent of samples with two or more detectable pesticides
  • Average number of pesticides found on a single sample
  • Average amount (in parts per million) of all pesticides found
  • Maximum number of pesticides found on a single sample
  • Total number of pesticides found on the commodity
The notable findings, which categorized these fruits and vegetable
to have the least amount of pesticide residues, showed that “78
percent of mangos, 75 percent of kiwi and 61 percent of cantaloupe
had no residue.” It also determined that less than 11 percent of the
pineapples tested were pesticide-residue free. While 7 percent of
the fruits and vegetables sampled showed a single trace of
pesticide residue, none of the samples were contaminated with
multiple pesticides named to The Clean Fifteen.

The “Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce” divulges the
“overall pesticide loads of common fruits and vegetables” and
helps advise consumers about what’s in their food because many
uncertainties have been linked to the health risks and consequences
of pesticide consumption.

While EWG aims to be a resource for consumers, The Clean Fifteen’s
goal is to be a guideline that consumers can follow to purchase
healthier conventional-grown produce and reduce people’s
exposure to health risks.