The Dirty Dozen - Top Produce you should always buy Organic

Pesticides

In June 2011 the Environmental Working Group rated pesticides in blueberries a significant concern, based on the most recent 2009 USDA laboratory test data.[1][2] Domestic US blueberries were scored at number 10 in the "Dirty Dozen"; imported were better, 23 out of 53 rated fruits and vegetables. (BLUEBERRIES - 52 Pesticide Residues) (BLUEBERRIES, FROZEN - 21 Pesticide Residues)

Because "wild" is a marketing term generally used for all low-bush blueberries, it is no guarantee that pesticides have not been used. For example, the application of pesticides is common in large-scale blueberry monoculture in Maine.[3]

At Spud.com, we believe in a healthy and sustainable diet. When we heard the USDA’s statistics showing that pesticides were detected in 7 out of every 10 fruit and vegetable samples in 2008, we were concerned. What does this mean for you? It means that outside of the growing organic food industry, if you eat in America, you eat pesticides.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has detected pesticides in blood and urine samples from 95.6 percent of more than 5,000 Americans tested in the agency’s national biomonitoring program (CDC 2009). What effects do pesticides have on us? Taking various factors such as people’s diets, the variation of pesticide residues on foods, as well as lifestyle, genetic and environmental factors contributing to disease, it can be difficult to be certain of the risks. There is, however an extensive amount of evidence demonstrating that pesticides harm workers, damage the environment and demonstrate toxicity to laboratory animals. Some states in America are working to reduce pesticide use and the federal government is also systematically reducing the highest risk uses, as this does take time.

Check out the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” – the 12 most highly contaminated fruits and vegetables. Share this convenient checklist with friends and family.

After all, knowledge is power!