Many of your favorite fruits and vegetables could be hiding dangerous pesticide residues. Apples, grapes, strawberries, nectarines, and spinach top the list for containing harmful pesticides linked to cancer and reproductive problems.
According to research by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), these common foods show alarming levels of pesticide contamination that could affect human health.
The EWG’s study sampled 46 fruits and vegetables, revealing that 12 items had the highest levels of pesticide residues. These included not only the five foods already mentioned but also kale, pears, peaches, peppers, cherries, blueberries, and green beans. Out of all the samples tested, 95% carried traces of at least one pesticide. A total of 209 different pesticides were found.
“Emerging evidence suggests many widely used fungicides may disrupt human hormone systems,” said Dr. Alexis Temkin, EWG’s senior toxicologist. This means that the combination of pesticides on these foods might be more harmful than individual chemicals, leading to greater health risks, including cancer and hormone-related issues.
Strawberries were particularly concerning, with an average of 7.8 different pesticides per sample, including chemicals like carbendazim, which has been linked to infertility and cancer. Similarly, apples were found to contain high levels of diphenylamine, a chemical that can damage organs such as the kidneys, liver, and bladder with long-term exposure. In addition, spinach samples showed up to 19 different pesticides, with many containing permethrin, a neurotoxic insecticide that’s banned in Europe due to its potential to cause tremors and seizures.
EWG suggests consumers consider switching to organic produce or thoroughly washing and peeling these items to reduce pesticide exposure. While the law in the European Union mandates safety limits for individual pesticides, the growing concern over pesticide mixtures calls for stronger regulations.
To help protect your health, be mindful of what’s on your plate and consider opting for organic versions of these fruits and vegetables whenever possible.
Article updated 3 days ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
