The "Dirty Dozen" is a list of fruits and vegetables that the EWG released in a report as having high pesticide residue. The report warned consumers that eating these types of produce may pose health risks. The list includes: celery, peaches, strawberries, domestic blueberries, nectarines, sweet bell peppers, spinach, kale and collard greens, cherries, potatoes, imported grapes, and lettuce. The EWG report, released over 10 years ago, concluded that "if you're eating five fruits and vegetables daily from the Dirty Dozen list you're consuming on average 10 pesticides a day." For the CNN story on the "Dirty Dozen," click here.
The recent report was commissioned by the Alliance for Food and Farming, a non-profit group of farmers and producers. This report concludes that according to current science, there is no link between pesticide residues found on fruits and vegetables and poor health. Click here for the full text of the report, "A Review of the Science on Potential Health Effects of Pesticide Residues on Food and Related Statements Made by Interest Groups."
Dr. Carl Keen, a professor of nutrition and internal medicine at the University of California, Davis and a member of the expert panel for the report stated that people are not eating enough fruits and vegetables and the "Dirty Dozen list is damaging because it can confuse the public into thinking that fruits or vegetables represent a risk" which is not the case.
To read the CNN article, click here.
Posted: 07/19/2010
