The fruits and vegetables with the highest levels of pesticides
New research has revealed the levels of pesticides in our fruits and vegetables.
The annual US Environmental Working Group “Dirty Dozen” list found strawberries contained the most pesticide residue, followed by spinach.
The other fruit and vegetables to make it on the list include: nectarines, apples, peaches, celery, grapes, pears, cherries, tomatoes, capsicums and potatoes.
Researchers analysed 48 types of popular non-organically grown fruit and vegetables based on more than 36,000 samples collected by The United States Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration.
Alarmingly, the pesticide residue remained on the fruits and veggies even after they were washed.
However, on the other end of the scale the “Clean Fifteen” list looks at the produce containing the lowest levels of pesticide.
The list includes: sweet corn, avocados, pineapples, cabbage, onions, frozen sweet peas, papayas, asparagus, mangoes, eggplant, honeydew melon, kiwis, cantaloupe, cauliflower and grapefruit.