Kale is one of the most pesticide-contaminated veggies you can buy in America

The 'Dirty Dozen' list uses data from the US Department of Agriculture to assess which fruit and veg are most contaminated with pesticide residues, and kale lovers won't be happy
Photo by Adolfo Félix on Unsplash

A new report by the Environmental Working Group in the US has found that kale has higher pesticide residues than most other fruit and veg found in American supermarkets.

The EWG has released its 2019 'Dirty Dozen' list which uses data from the US Department of Agriculture to assess which products are most contaminated with pesticide residues.

Each year the EWG tests a selection of fruit and veg for the report and this year kale ranked third most contaminated overall. Despite the rise in popularity of kale, the last time it was included in these tests was 2009, when it ranked eighth on the Dirty Dozen list.

In this year's round of tests, more than 92 per cent of conventionally grown kale samples had at least two or more pesticide residues, according to the report, while some samples contained residues from as many as 18 pesticides.

On top of that, 60 percent of the kale samples tested positive for Dacthal, which has long classified as a possible human carcinogen in the US and is banned in Europe.

EWG's 2019 'Dirty 12'

1. Strawberries

2. Spinach

3. Kale

4. Nectarines

5. Apples

6. Grapes

7. Peaches

8. Cherries

9. Pears

10. Tomatoes

11. Celery

12. Potatoes

All of the fruit and veg was washed and peeled prior to testing.

"We were surprised kale had so many pesticides on it, but the test results were unequivocal," said EWG toxicologist Alexis Temkin. "Fruits and vegetables are an important part of everyone’s diet, and when it comes to some conventionally grown produce items, such as kale, choosing organic may be a better option."

Overall, nearly 70 percent of fresh produce sold in the US has pesticide residues on it, according to the analysis.

Meanwhile, Carla Burns, EWG research analyst added: "The main route of pesticide exposure for most Americans who do not live or work on or near farms is through their diet. Studies have shown that eating fruits and vegetables free of pesticides benefits health, and this is especially important for pregnant women and children."

And, if you're curious, these were the cleanest:

EWG's '2019 Clean 15'

  1. Avocados
  2. Sweetcorn
  3. Pineapples
  4. Frozen peas
  5. Onions
  6. Papayas
  7. Aubergines
  8. Asparagus
  9. Kiwis
  10. Cabbage
  11. Cauliflower
  12. Cataloupes (melon)
  13. Broccoli
  14. Mushrooms
  15. Honeydew melons

"Even low levels of pesticide exposure can be harmful to children," said Dr. Philip Landrigan, a pediatrician and epidemiologist. "When possible, parents and caregivers should take steps to lower children’s exposures to pesticides while still feeding them diets rich in healthy fruits and vegetables."

EWG recommends that shoppers opt for organic versions of the fruit and veg items which feature on this year's 'dirty list'. However, it also says that if these are not available, it's still a good idea to continue to eat fresh produce (even if not organic).

"The health benefits of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables outweigh the risks of pesticide exposure," Burns said.

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