Buying organic produce can be pricey, but I firmly believe in it! Studies have proven that organic foods reduce exposure to pesticides and to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In order to curb your spending, there is a list called the Dirty Dozen outlining which foods you should be buying organic.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG), an environmental health research and advocacy organization, recently released the 2014 shoppers guide to pesticides in produce. As the name suggests, the shoppers guide lists the amount of pesticides on each type of produce so that consumers, who cannot purchase all organic produce, can minimize their pesticide exposure and make healthier shopping decisions.
The foods included in the Dirty Dozen list are those foods that have the highest concentrations of pesticides, so should be bought organic. They include:
Alternatively, the foods on the Clean Fifteen, or foods that are the least likely to contain high levels of pesticides, can be purchased conventionally. So, you can save your money with these ones! (Keep in mind some of these foods are not completely free of pesticides, their concentration is simply lower.) The Clean Fifteen items include:
To support the EWG’s research, you can visit this website below to donate and you will also receive your very own handy shoppers guide.
You can also download the free app for your phone so you have it in the grocery store. I use it all the time.
Happy shopping!
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