Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen

What fresh produce should I buy organic? This is one of the most common questions I receive on a regular basis. If you eat something like a pineapple or watermelon, these foods have a dense layer of protection from pesticides because of the outer layer of skin. This isn’t the same for berries.

The Dirty Dozen

Fruits and vegetables on “The Dirty Dozen” list tested positive for at least 47 different chemicals, some with even as many as 67. For the items on this list, you should go organic whenever possible. This list includes:

  • Celery
  • Peaches
  • Strawberries
  • Apples
  • Blueberries
  • Nectarines
  • Sweet bell peppers
  • Spinach, kale and collard greens
  • Cherries
  • Potatoes
  • Grapes
  • Lettuce

The Clean Fifteen

These items have little to no traces of pesticides and are safe to consume in non-organic form. This includes:

  • Onions
  • Avocados
  • Sweet corn
  • Pineapples
  • Mango
  • Sweet peas
  • Asparagus
  • Kiwi fruit
  • Cabbage
  • Eggplant
  • Cantaloupe
  • Watermelon
  • Grapefruit
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Sweet onions

Which of these do you regularly put in your shopping cart? It may be time to reassess your organic and nonorganic choices. Print this list off and keep it near your grocery shopping list to use as a guide while doing your shopping.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *