Buying habits and the dirty dozen list

[Opti]

I'm wondering if other people change their buying habits based

on the current dirty dozen list. Looks like in 2014, apples reclaimed

the top spot.

2014 Dirty Dozen Plus
Nonorganic apples once again topped The EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce report, making it the fourth year in a row the beloved fruit earned the unfavorable spot.

Kale, collard greens, and hot peppers were frequently contaminated with insecticides that are particularly toxic to human health, prompting their "Dirty Dozen Plus" status.

1. Apples
2. Strawberries
3. Grapes
4. Celery
5. Peaches
6. Spinach
7. Sweet Bell Peppers
8. Nectarines (Imported)
9. Cucumbers
10. Cherry Tomatoes
11. Snap Peas (Imported)
12. Potatoes
+ Hot Peppers
+ Kale/Collard Greens

Read More: EWG’s Complete 2014 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides and Produce

Other Important Findings
• Every sample of imported nectarine samples tested and 99 percent of apple samples tested positive for at least one pesticide residue.

• The average potato had more pesticides by weight than any other food.

• A single grape tested positive for 15 pesticides.

• Single samples of celery, cherry tomatoes, imported snap peas, and strawberries tested positive for 13 different pesticides apiece.

www.rodalenews.com/2014-dirty-dozen

[bean29]

I'm doomed,

Apples, cucumbers, strawberries and peppers, grapes, peaches, nectarines and potatos.

Yep, that about covers everything we eat...except corn - which I am sure is chock full of pesticides too.

[midwestlily]

Jun 18, 2014 9:23:46 GMT -5 bean29 said:

I'm doomed,

Apples, cucumbers, strawberries and peppers, grapes, peaches, nectarines and potatos.

Yep, that about covers everything we eat...except corn - which I am sure is chock full of pesticides too.

Me, too.  Except for celery.  I hate celery.

[Deleted]

If they make the list, I buy Organic or local sustainable if they follow organic but aren't certified. If they don't make the list, I buy whatever looks best/ is less expensive/ is local, etc...  I try to grow as much as I can while the weather is good.

I try to forget when I'm eating out that I'm sure they didn't splurge for organic potatoes

[tloonya]

So...whats now?

[HoneyBBQ]

I try to buy >75% organic or more.

I follow the dirty dozen pretty closely. But I also look at price. I won't pay 3x the price for the same item for organic but I usually will if it's <2x.

Things I peel like bananas and onions I'm not AS concerned about.

It's amazing how much food we waste and how fat we are. If we stopped feeding cows half our food and just concentrated on making smaller quantities of high quality food... we'd all be healthier and happier.

Thanks for sharing.

[Blonde Granny]

They ought to add chicken and other poultry to the list. If anyone remembers the dog & cats that died from eating treats that ultimately were proven to be made in China

Well, it seems that American poultry suppliers are processing live poultry here, then shipping them to China for further processing, then they are sent back to the USA. All the packaging says is " product of USA". They are not inspected by the USDA when shipped back to the US and no information about China is necessary on the packaging.

[greeniis10]

Isn't it enough to either peel produce or wash it with a scrubby brush?  I eat a LOT of fruit and vegetables and I only buy organic if it is a good deal.  Otherwise, it's just not within my budget.

However, I peel a lot of things and whether I eat the peel or not I wash everything thoroughly with a scrubby brush.  So far so good!  I haven't gotten sick.  Hopefully I'm removing enough of the pesticides and chemicals to not have long term effects, either.

I've completely eliminated meat and fish because there are terrible things in those, too, and I don't trust either the USDA's guidelines and their ability to inspect everything.

[Tiny]

This isn't a big thing on my list of stuff to avoid. I tend to wash and/or peel (if appropriate) my veggies/fruit. Not sure if that really helps or not. I'm skeptical of the "organic" labels on fruit/veggies at the stores - who the heck knows what that label even means.

I do have a CSA share - a Farm Box but I'm more motivated by the tasty veggies than the 'organic' or 'shop local' angles.


I've been drinking diet Coke for more than 30 years and for years I've occassionally popped ibuprophen like candy (tendonitis hands/forearms and then achy knees/ankles and then that time of the month). So, I'm alrealy chemical laden... I'm sure whatever residue is left after my washing/peeling isn't gonna be the thing that kills me.

[tcu2003]

I look at it and think about it while shopping. That said, I don't always follow it. My kiddo LOVES berries, and I try to buy organic, but I can't always find them, and as someone else mentioned, I'm not willing to pay 3x the price of non-organic. It also drives me nuts that I can't find the larger sizes of organic berries all the time. Now that it's summer, I also try to buy at Farmer's Market and eat locally.

[movingforward]

I would never eat anything if I thought about all the crap I hear/read on a daily basis

[Deleted]

There is a clean list too... Stuff with thick skins, peels, onions, pineapple, banana, etc don't need to be organic. I buy those organic only if they are much nicer/ as cheap..

[justme]

Jun 18, 2014 10:08:07 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

They ought to add chicken and other poultry to the list. If anyone remembers the dog & cats that died from eating treats that ultimately were proven to be made in China

Well, it seems that American poultry suppliers are processing live poultry here, then shipping them to China for further processing, then they are sent back to the USA. All the packaging says is " product of USA". They are not inspected by the USDA when shipped back to the US and no information about China is necessary on the packaging.

I would think that's all the frozen and processed chicken? I don't think fresh chicken would survive that trip...maybe if it was vacuum sealed

[tloonya]

Jun 18, 2014 10:08:07 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

They ought to add chicken and other poultry to the list. If anyone remembers the dog & cats that died from eating treats that ultimately were proven to be made in China

Well, it seems that American poultry suppliers are processing live poultry here, then shipping them to China for further processing, then they are sent back to the USA. All the packaging says is " product of USA". They are not inspected by the USDA when shipped back to the US and no information about China is necessary on the packaging.

Soo all this talk about fuel cost is a bullshit, right?