Popular veggies contain significant pesticides

Not all fruits and vegetables carry the same pesticide risk. A new analysis published in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health created a pesticide load index for 44 common produce types and found that people who consumed more high-residue fruits and vegetables had measurably higher pesticide biomarker levels in their urine.

The most contaminated produce included spinach, kale greens, strawberries, nectarines, peaches, apples, and cherries — closely mirroring the EWG's Dirty Dozen. The least contaminated included sweet corn, onions, frozen sweet peas, cabbage, and asparagus.

The findings are especially relevant for children and women who are pregnant or trying to conceive. If budget is a concern, the practical strategy is to prioritize organic spending on the highest-residue items and buy conventional for the lowest-residue ones.

A large meta-analysis of 343 studies found that organic crops had up to 400% lower pesticide residues and significantly higher levels of beneficial antioxidants.

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