Top Produce to Buy Organic


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Latest list of foods highly contaminated with pesticides.
Therefore this is a list of the produce we should ALWAYS buy organic or skip altogether.

	FRUIT		VEGETABLES

	Peaches - listed as the worst with the highest levels of pesticides of all conventional produce Strawberries - one of the most pesticide laden food of all and so scrumptious and not easy to wash because they are small and sweet, like Raspberries, so choose organic to be safe and keep your family safe Raspberries Apples Grapes (& therefore Raisins and Juice! - many kinds of juices have Grape Juice in them) Nectarines Apricots Pears Cherries Lemons - especially if zesting, should definitely use organic Limes Bananas - heavy chemicals for the trip to America including Thiabendazole which Damages the Brain and Nervous System. Especially troubling since this is the first food we can feed our babies! Not on EWG list anymore but we're keeping them on ours. Kiwis - off the latest lists Pineapple depending from where Cantaloupe from Mexico Tomatoes - yes, they're a fruit, but they were recently taken off the top tend list. Of course, grape and cherry tomatoes are difficult to wash giving reason to get those organic. And organic tomatoes just taste better!		Potatoes Corn - kids love it and so do bugs plus most corn is now genetically modified! Many products contain corn syrup too so choose organic when you can for those items as well. Off some lists but we're keeping it. Celery Cucumbers Spinach Lettuce Green & Red Bell Peppers Lettuce - some more than others Hot Peppers Green Beans - Acephate, Benomyl, Chlorothalonil, Methamidophos - Damages Brain and Nervous System, Cause Birth Defects Winter or Hard Squash - recently taken off the top 10 list. Carrots - newly added to the list! Also important to buy organic: Rice - loaded with pesticides! Oats - read those cereal boxes! Milk - antibiotics and hormones are forced into America's conventional dairy cow to increase profits without regard on our children's health or that of the cow's - see Not in My Milk Baby Foods! - babies are particularly sensitive to pesticides to make your own or go Organic! Wild Salmon - okay, so it's not officially "organic" but Wild is the right choice for many reasons Foods that are GE like Corn - there are more pesticides on genetically engineered foods so avoid GMO Foods Nuts - because of the high fat content, they hold on to pesticides more than others Anything you or your kids eat a lot of - since pesticides accumulate, if you eat a lot of something that may not be listed here, lets say your kids eat peanut butter every day, then you should certainly avoid an excess of toxins by choosing organic for those items.
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The latest information I've read takes Bananas and Corn off the list, however, since those are commonly eaten by our children, I am keeping them on my list. Children are particularly susceptible to pesticides in foods. Relative to body weight, children consume more pesticides than adults. Children eat more than adults relative to their weight. And, since children's detoxification systems aren't fully developed, they accumulate chemicals over a longer period of time and in greater amounts. Since they are picky eaters and may only eat a few specific fruits or vegetables, they are likely ingesting one pesticide in larger amounts; this can accumulate to toxic levels rather easily in a small body. Many chemicals accumulate in muscle or fat tissue. The Environmental Working Group concluded that the biggest factor in your risk of cancer from pesticide residues occurs in childhood.

Most corn is genetically engineered too, so another reason I am keeping it on this list. Of course, much of this list depends upon where the product is grown and which pesticides are used or allowed in that country. For example, Pineapples were only on one list but I thought it enough to add it to the list.

Washing does help remove some of the pesticides but will not take it all off, especially on hard to wash produce like berries. Pesticides actually make it into many of the plants and therefore into the fruit and vegetables that we eat. Above produce has the most pesticides so it's tougher to wash off. Less pesticides are always better so I still think these are better organic choices.

Children of conventional farmers are exposed to unsafe levels of pesticides so by choosing organic we are supporting a healthier environment for children in farming communities everywhere in the world. Fair trade practices surround many organic farms as well so the farming communities are paid a fair wage for their work and don't employ slave labor (common in conventional chocolate production!) so they can therefore create a better future in the lives of their children.

Pesticides and chemicals have been linked to the growing cancer rates and disease. This is particularly important for growing children. When we feed our children, we feed our future. Teaching our children the importance of protecting their health and making good choices when we are not with them is an important concern for every parent. We must set a good example and explain things so that they are empowered to make healthful decisions.

For more information see the following links:

Is Farm-Raised Salmon Bad For Your Health After All? - New report says it’s high in probable carcinogens November, 2003
Food News
Green Guide
Kids Organic
Ten Fruits and Vegetables to Buy Organic, CHEC
Pesticides Still in Apples, Lettuce and Potatoes, Friends of Earth, Dec 2003
The Kitchen Physician
Produce Items May Exceed EPA Standards, Washington Post, Feb 1999 "As little as a single serving of some popular fruits and vegetables may contain enough harmful chemicals to exceed government health standards, according to a study by Consumers Union, publisher of the magazine Consumer Reports"
Most & Least Pesticide Contaminated Produce, Oct 2003
Ten Must Eat Organic Foods, Living on Earth
Monkeys at Copenhagen Zoo Go Ape Over Organic Bananas, The New Farm, Jan 2003
Why Organic?
Reports of Young coconuts being treated prior to shipment
How 'bout Them Apples?, Environmental Working Group
How Safe is Our Produce?, Consumer Reports
The Fact on Pesticides, New Internationalist
Ten Healing Foods: To Buy Organic, Staying Healthy with Dr. Elson Haas
Organic Food: Worth the Money?, WebMD

This list changes so please let me know of any broken links or new information. Thanks!

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