The Clean Fifteen & The Dirty Dozen 2013 Edition


4 Mins Read

Most of us have probably hear the word organic a lot these days. Some of us might already be striving towards 100% organic diets while others- most of us I suspect- feel guilty every time we reach for the regular broccoli in the produce isle of the supermarket. It isn’t easy to eat and buy organic. Many vegetables and fruits are not available organic. Organic produce is more expensive and sometimes it doesn’t look very appealing. And yet, somewhere in the back of our minds, we know that organic is healthier for our bodies, friendlier to the planet, and just more wholesome overall. 

Green Queen wants to help you and make your life easier. Forget buying everything organic, but how about focusing on the fruits and vegetables that have been tested to have the most pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and whatever harmful else is added to plants and the soil, and avoiding those, as a start. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a US-based NGO dedicated to protecting the human population from excess exposure to damaging toxins through public education. Every year they release The Clean Fifteen & The Dirty Dozen, lists that detail the fruits and vegetables that have been tested and found to have the most and the least amount of toxins. Green Queen has reprinted the list below for your reference.

EAT CLEAN & VOTE GREEN!

Dirty Dozen – Buy these fruits and vegetable organic as often as possible, if not always.

1
Apple
Apples
 
2
Celery
Celery
 
3
Strawberries
Strawberries
 
4
Peaches
Peaches
 
5
Spinach
Spinach
 
6
Nectarines
Nectarines
 
7
Grapes
Grapes
 
8
Red Pepper
Sweet bell peppers
 
9
Potatoe
Potatoes
 
10
Blueberries
Blueberries 
 
11
Lettuce
Lettuce
 
12
Kale
Kale/collard greens
 
Clean 15 – These fruits and vegetables have the lowest quantities of pesticide and toxins; you don’t have to buy them organic.
1
Onions
Onions
 
2
Sweet Corn
Sweet Corn
 
3
Pineapple
Pineapples
 
4
Avocado
Avocado
 
5
Asparagus
Asparagus
 
6
Peas
Sweet peas
 
7
Mango
Mangoes
 
8
Eggplant
Eggplant
 
9
Cantelope
Cantaloupe 
 
10
Kiwi
Kiwi
 
11
Cabbage
Cabbage
 
12
Watermelon
Watermelon
 
13
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes
 
14
Grapefruit
Grapefruit
 
15
Mushrooms
Mushrooms
 
 

photo credit: Suzies Farm via photopin cc

Author

  • Sonalie Figueiras

    2021 Women of Power, 2019 GEN T Honoree, V Label Global Hero, 2 x TEDx Speaker: Serial social entrepreneur & trends forecaster Sonalie Figueiras is a sustainability expert, food futurist and eco-powerhouse who has been inspiring global audiences for over a decade with practical steps on how to fight climate change. Known as the Green Queen of Asia, she is the founder and Editor in Chief of the award-winning Green Queen - the region’s first impact media platform that educates millions of readers on the connection between health, sustainability and the environment and showcases future solutions. She is also the co-founder and CEO of organic sourcing platform Ekowarehouse and climate tech SaaS Source Green, which helps consumer brands quit plastic packaging thanks to proprietary plastic reduction software. In addition, Sonalie is a global keynote speaker and an advisor to multiple mission-driven startups and NGOs, and a venture partner to several VC funds.

    View all posts

You might also like