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In a perfect world, you could always choose the foods with the organic label. You care about your health and you know that pesticide exposure is a big deal. But unfortunately, you don’t have a Gwyneth Paltrow kind of budget, so you need to pick and choose the most important foods to buy organic. Some foods, like pineapple, avocado and sweet corn, don’t absorb as much pesticide residue, so you can feel reasonably safe choosing the conventionally grown option.
But other foods absorb large amounts of pesticides, and more evidence is emerging about the damaging effects of pesticides on hormones and neurological disorders. The amount of pesticides on food is a problem that is getting worse, not better. Some foods contain a lot of pesticides, so it’s very important to choose the organic option whenever possible.
Grapes
This is near the top of most lists of foods you should buy organic. More pesticides are used on grapes than on any other fruit. In fact, investigators found 64 different pesticides on the combined grape samples they tested. Maybe this also means you should get organic wine!
Nectarines
Imported nectarines are especially bad news if you’re avoiding pesticides. Researchers found pesticides on every single imported nectarine they tested. Nectarines also contained the highest concentration of pesticides by weight.
Bell Peppers
Don’t let the first two items on this list convince you that fruits are the only concern. Bell peppers have the highest concentration of pesticide residue of any vegetable, with one pepper testing positive for 15 different pesticides. Investigators found a shocking total of 88 different pesticides on bell peppers they sampled.
Leafy Greens
Most people who choose to have a green smoothie for breakfast and a salad for lunch are doing so in the name of health. Therefore, it’s sad and ironic that leafy greens—yes, even kale—are on the list of foods that contain too many pesticides. What’s worse is that the class of pesticides used on leafy greens, called organophosphates, are the most toxic. Don’t give up your smoothies and salads, but definitely buy organic greens.
Apples
Apples have been a target of protective moms since the 1980s since this crop is among the foods most likely to be contaminated by pesticides. According to the Environmental Working Group, 99 percent of conventionally-grown apples contain residue of at least one pesticide. You can and should wash and peel apples to remove some of the residue. However, products like apple juice and applesauce will still contain pesticides, so you should choose the organic option here as well.
Meat
It’s easy to choose the organic option when it comes to produce because the price difference between conventional and organic is ultimately not that significant. Choosing organic meat will definitely affect your budget, though. Here’s why it’s worth it anyway: cows and chickens used for conventional meat are typically fed large amounts of antibiotics. This may slightly reduce your risk of contamination, but significantly increases your exposure to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The idea of bacteria that we can’t fight off with any antibiotics is a scary thought. As an alternative, you could always reduce your consumption of meat or even go vegetarian.
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