How Toxic is the Produce You're Buying — Study Shows Apples, Strawberries, Grapes, Etc. Are Saturated With All Kinds of Pesticides

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By Sally Painter
Most people are aware of the harmful chemicals sprayed on the nation’s foods; and for the largest majority of Americans, it’s impossible to avoid purchasing these crops.

Not everyone can afford to buy only organic foods, since these non-chemically grown foods typically cost more than non-organics.

One group that’s well-known within the circle of those working to protect not just the environment but especially human health is the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Each year this health watchdog publishes its “Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce”. Consumers can quickly assess the produce that perhaps they wish to avoid or at least eat less.

It’s noted on the EWG website that children are the most vulnerable to pesticides. For conscientious mothers who believe they are providing their children a healthy diet with fresh fruits and vegetables, they may be upset and disappointed that this isn’t always the case.

The 2014 EWGs Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce

The EWG gives an annual checkup with a rating for most “conventional foods” that test for pesticide residues. In 1996, the US Congress tasked the EPA to provide “right to know” information on “behalf of consumers”.

The EWG states on its website that they “fill the void left by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)”. The group continues with how it feels the EPA “has largely failed to tell Americans they have a right to know about the risks of pesticide exposure and ways they can reduce pesticides in their diets”.

In the EWG’s annual rating, Americans can quickly find which foods contain the highest levels of pesticide residues and which ones typically have the lowest levels. This information is vital to Americans wishing to avoid ingesting harmful chemicals and making better and healthier food choices for their families.

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