It seems that we can’t get away from harmful pesticides in our foods. Sure, you can wash, use a store-bought wash, scrub, and peel, but if you don’t buy organic or grow your own produce, you risk ingesting the types of chemicals that have been linked by leading agricultural organizations—like the US Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Working Group, the Pesticide Action Network, and the Organic Trade Association—to several auto-immune disorders, mental and physical impairments, and even various types of cancer.
In fact, the most recent studies list the following ten fruits and vegetables among the highest in terms of pesticides (in no particular order…
1. Cherry Tomatoes
Tomatoes, particularly of the mini cherry tomato variety, have received a ton of bad press about pesticide residue. However, the fact that they come packaged in a plastic clamshell container often causes consumers to believe they arrive at the grocery store already cleansed—not true! Cherry tomatoes are among the highest pesticide-containing foods unless you grow your own crop; buy from an organic-certified farmer, or an organic-certified grocery store.
