The group, a nonprofit focused on public health, scoured nearly
100,000 produce pesticide reports from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to
determine what fruits and vegetables we eat have the highest,
and lowest, amounts of chemical residue. Most alarming are the
fruits and vegetables dubbed the “Dirty Dozen,” which contain 47
to 67 pesticides per serving. These foods are believed to be
most susceptible because they have soft skin that tends to
absorb more pesticides. “It’s critical people know what they are
consuming,” the Environmental Working Group’s Amy Rosenthal
said. “The list is based on pesticide tests conducted after the
produce was washed with USDA high-power pressure water system.
The numbers reflect the closest thing to what consumers are
buying at the store.” The group suggests limiting consumption of
pesticides by purchasing organic for the 12 fruits and
vegetables. “You can reduce your exposure to pesticides by up to
80 percent by buying the organic v