Kale, collard greens, and mustard greens collectively ranked second on the Dirty Dozen list, followed by strawberries, grapes, and nectarines. For items on the list, EWG suggests buying organic or frozen versions, and diligence in washing all fruits and vegetables thoroughly.
Crop top: Naturally the farmers who grow the crops on the Dirty Dozen list are not fans.
The group also noted that while the USDA may find residual levels of pesticides, “more than 99%” of all produce the the agency tests have pesticide levels “well below the stringent safety standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency.”
“Lower-income and cost-conscious consumers do not respond to the EWG report by purchasing only organic products,” AFF asserted. “Instead, they are increasingly likely to avoid fruits and vegetables altogether.”
Consumers, meanwhile, are not of one mind about how worried they should be about pesticides.
While 29% agreed that the benefits outweighed the risk, 30% disagreed.
