Dirty Dozen
- a surprising finding in the face of soaring consumer demand for food without synthetic chemicals.
This year's update of EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce™ reports that USDA tests found a total 146 different pesticides on thousands of fruit and vegetable samples examined in 2014. The pesticides persisted on fruits and vegetables tested by USDA
- even when they were washed and, in some cases, peeled.
The USDA findings indicate that the conventional fruit and produce industries are ignoring a striking market trend: American consumers are voting with their pocketbooks for produce with less pesticide. Yet EWG’s Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce™ recognizes that many people who want to reduce their exposure to pesticides cannot find or afford an all-organic diet. It helps them identify conventionally grown fruits and vegetables that tend to test low for pesticide residues. When they want foods whose conventional versions test high for pesticides, they can make an effort to locate organic versions.
Category : Lifestyle
Reviews (29)
Contrary to what another reviewer has stated, buying organic DOES NOT mean you're avoiding pesticides. Honestly, Google it! In fact, organic farming regulations have a list of pesticides they're allowed to use while maintaining the "Organic" labeling which costs consumers on average 47% more in spite of only costing 5-7% more to produce. Organic farming is a racket and knowing what vegetables and fruits are safe this season is invaluable. EWG has *always* done an amazing job of informing consumers as a third party, not influenced by the industries that it judges.
The lists are not referring to the nutritional facts of food. Not the plants are bad, but the way they're grown and treated. If you grow them yourself or buy organic, they're actually good for you. Therefore this list makes no sense.
Its great just for the main lists to pull up while shopping. Very annoying though that you can't hit the back button to get to the "main" screen or to just...go back! from wherever you are, to what page you were just on.
If I understand how to use this list, I'm buying organic if it's on the dirty dozen, and if it's on the clean15, I can get away with non-organic. So, organic strawberries, non-organic avocados. Seems pretty straightforward and helpful to me. Thank you!
Great help!
Corn is number two on the safe list and papayas are listed as well. 98% of the papaya in the US is gmo. I think those of us who would download this type of list don't want to eat pesticides or gmo.
Super to know which plants are more likely to be poisonous
Use this, especially if you have kids.
It is great
This app is just a list. But when you launch it, it has to load, keeping you waiting. It's clunky to find the whole list. And, it's tough to use on a phone because it's not a compact presentation. Finally, today I saw that EWG updated their list last week, but the app still shows last year's rankings. There's no updated app available. Why, if this takes so long to launch, is it not even updating? My new approach: PDF the list, create a shortcut to that file, and a reminder for every April to update the PDF.
The only app I've found with zero permissions - because why would this need them? [SEE EDIT NOTE BELOW] The list is helpful, but don't expect it to cover every produce item in the grocery store. Thanks for such a simple, informative app! [EDIT: oddly, since the new update the app needs access to USB drives, my files, and the internet. Why the change? Knocked off a star because of that alone.]
Slower than the 2014 version, with huge fonts and spacing between items so you have to scroll more. A huge step back in design.
I've opened this app while at the grocery store several times. It helps me make informed choices.
Updated my 2013 moto X to lollipop 5.1 and this stopped working.
Why is this an app. Mobile version of site would be good. Scrolling is jittery. Information is not well organized. Accessing my photos and media, why?
I think this is only according to food sampled in the USA where it is more mass produced than many places in the world and that usually means it gets more contaminated. Can you put a disclaimer somewhere visible that states the same list may not be accurate for European countries, or is it?
Scroll won't work good, clicking on links nothing happens
Really like your information, and the app is nice, but SEARCH WOULD BE GREAT!
This is the greatest way to shop and top know you are minimizing your pesticide intake!
It won't let me view the lists! Love EWG, app isn't user friendly :(
Love the info, the new layout, love the convenience, well done! Thank you for all you do!
So glad I found this app!
When to buy organic produce
Use the app all the time. Love it. Simple. Clean. Helpful.
When is this app going to be updated to the new 2016 list?
Can't wait for updated 2015 list. Handy app, use it constantly in order to be able afford feeding my family healthily without breaking the bank and knowing which foods I can cut corners and buy that are not organic with less risk.
Thank you for doing this annual research. I use this list to decide what I'm going to grow every year. The app should have a donate button.
This app doesn't do a lot, but it does it well. A solid list of foods to avoid or choose to limit exposure to pesticides.
This is a list to use when shopping at a grocery store or local market- it is not referring to homegrown or organic foods. It makes it easier for consumers to see which are the top rated worst food in terms of herbicide, pesticides and GMOs in commercial, non-organic foods. Therefore when people rate it one star saying it makes no sense they fail to realize they aren't using the app for it's intended use