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EarthTalk®
From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine
Dear
EarthTalk: What are the most important foods to buy organic?
-- Rachel Klepping, Bronxville, NY
Given
the usual higher prices of organic versus conventionally-grown
foods, it can be a challenge to get the biggest bang for our buck
while eating healthy and avoiding the ingestion of synthetic chemicals
along with our nutrients. One approach, say some experts, is to
only buy organic when the actual edible parts of a non-organically
grown food might come into direct contact with toxic fertilizers
and pesticides.
The
nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) reports that consumers
can reduce their chemical exposure by some 80 percent by either
avoiding the most contaminated conventionally grown fruits and
vegetables altogether, or by eating only the organic varieties.
To help us sort through what and what not to buy, the group offers
a handy Shopper's Guide to Pesticides, which fits on a small piece
of paper that you can keep in your pocket and have handy on grocery
trips. You can print it out for free from EWG's FoodNews.org website,
or you can download it as a free App for your iPhone.
To
make it easy to use, EWG has distilled its analysis into two lists.
The first, "Dirty Dozen: Buy These Organic," lists foods
that when grown conventionally contain the largest amounts of
pesticide and fertilizer residues. These include peaches, strawberries,
apples, blueberries, nectarines, bell peppers, spinach, cherries,
kale/collard, greens, potatoes, and (imported) grapes. Consumers
should definitely spend the extra money for organic versions of
these foods.
On
the other side of the coin, EWG's "Clean 15" list includes
foods that contain the least amount of chemical residues when
grown conventionally. These include onions, avocados, sweet corn,
pineapples, mangos, sweet peas, asparagus, kiwi, cabbage, eggplant,
cantaloupe, watermelon, grapefruit, sweet potatoes and honeydew.
It's OK to eat conventionally grown varieties of these foods.
EWG
analysts developed the "Clean 15" guide using data from
some 89,000 tests for pesticide residues in produce conducted
between 2000 and 2008 and collected by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
What's the difference, you may ask? EWG found that by eating five
conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables a day from the Dirty
Dozen list, a consumer on average ingests 10 different pesticides;
those who stick to the Clean 15 list ingest less than two.
Other
foods you and your family eat, such as meats, cereals, breads
and dairy products, might also be exposing you to unwanted chemicals.
According to EWG, the direct health benefits of organic meat,
eggs and milk are less clear, but you should play it safe by sticking
with all-natural, free-range, grass-fed meats that are not fed
antibiotics or growth hormones, and by choosing only organic dairy
products.
Thanks
to increasing demand, more and more food purveyors are putting
extra emphasis on organics. This will ultimately result in both
lower prices and larger selections. Natural foods market aisles
are already teeming with organic choices-and chances are your
local supermarket or big box store has introduced organic versions
of many popular items. Consequently, there has never been a better
time to take stock of what you are feeding yourself and your family,
and to make changes for better health.
CONTACT:
EWG, www.foodnews.org;
USDA/FDA
SEND
YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS TO: EarthTalk®, c/o E - The Environmental
Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; earthtalk@emagazine.com.
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