Foods High in Pesticides

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) in US, the following conventional fruits and vegetables have the highest levels of pesticide residues: 

Strawberries: In 2018, the EWG found that one-third of all strawberry samples contained ten or more pesticide residues.

Spinach: 97% of spinach samples contained pesticide residues, including permethrin, a neurotoxic insecticide that is highly toxic to animals.

Nectarines: The EWG detected residues in nearly 94% of nectarine samples, with one sample containing over 15 different pesticide residues.

Apples: The EWG detected pesticide residues in 90% of apple samples. What is more, 80% of the apples tested contained traces of diphenylamine, a pesticide banned in Europe.

Grapes: Over 96% tested positive for pesticide residues.

Peaches: Over 99% of the peaches tested by the EWG contained an average of four pesticide residues.

Cherries: The EWG detected an average of five pesticide residues on cherry samples, including a pesticide called iprodione, which is banned in Europe.

Pears: Over 50% of pears tested by the EWG contained residues from five or more pesticides.

Tomatoes: Four pesticide residues were found on the conventionally grown tomato. One sample contained over 15 different pesticide residues.

Celery: Pesticide residues were found on over 95% of celery samples. As many as 13 different types of pesticides were detected.

Potatoes: Potato samples contained more pesticide residues by weight than any other crop tested. Chlorpropham, an herbicide, made up the bulk of the detected pesticides.

Sweet bell peppers: Sweet bell peppers contain fewer pesticide residues compared to other fruits and vegetables. Yet, the EWG cautions that pesticides used on sweet bell peppers “tend to be more toxic to human health.”

Other fruits and vegetables that are having high levels of pesticide residues include hot peppers, cherry tomatoes, snap peas and blueberries.