The Dirtiest And Cleanest Crops

Each year the Environmental Working Group (EWG) composes a list of the "Dirty Dozen" and the "Clean 15." These are lists put together to illustrate the dirtiest, most pesticide-infested crops. The lists can be important for those who are confused about buying organic, or for those who only want to buy certain produce organic.

Tests are done by the Food Department of Agriculture to find out which pesticides, and how many, are used on a particular type of produce. The Environmental Working Group compiles the data from 89,000 different pesticide residue tests in order to create these lists.

For this year's "Dirty Dozen" and "Clean 15" click here.

Although, everyone might not be able to afford organic, the EWG states that "the health benefits of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables outweigh the risks of pesticide exposure." It seems that when times are tight, health benefits are most important.

For 2010's list of the "Dirty Dozen" and "Clean 15" click here.