Strawberries, spinach, and kale top EWG’s ‘Dirty Dozen’ for pesticide residues

The trendy term “superfoods” refers to food products that are exceptionally high in beneficial nutrients.

Who would have thought that healthy foods — especially plant-based ones — could pose health risks? They can contain high levels of pesticides. For example, organophosphates, which can damage the nervous system, have been found on blueberries and green beans.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), based in Washington, published a “Dirty Dozen” list of produce with the highest pesticide residues.

At the top are strawberries, spinach, and kale, the Daily Mail reports. Also on the list — all foods usually thought of as healthy — are blueberries, grapes, apples, nectarines, pears, and cherries. Bell peppers (sweet and hot) and green beans also made the list.

EWG analyzed 46,569 samples across 46 common fresh produce items and found pesticides in 75 percent. Despite bans on these chemicals by many governments, farmers continue to use them to protect their crops. However, consuming food with pesticides can lead to nerve damage, headaches, stomach disorders, breathing difficulties, cataracts, hearing loss, coma, and even cancer.

Researchers found over 250 different types of pesticides in fruits and vegetables. Many of these are banned in the U.S. and Europe because of their harmful effects on human health.

For example, the neurotoxic organophosphate insecticide acephate — banned for use on green beans in 2011 — was detected in 6 percent of green bean samples.

Both blueberries and green beans contained concerning levels of organophosphate insecticides. Acephate, for example, is listed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a possible carcinogen. Organophosphates are highly dangerous to the nervous system and can harm the developing brains of children.

Nearly 10 percent of blueberry samples contained the pesticide phosmet, and 9 percent showed traces of malathion. Both are organophosphate compounds; malathion has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as probably carcinogenic.

More than 90 percent of samples of strawberries, apples, cherries, spinach, nectarines, and grapes contained at least two pesticides.

EWG also compiled a list of fruits and vegetables with very low or no pesticide residues.

EWG toxicologist Alexis Temkin says numerous studies link pesticides to serious health problems. Still, a toxic cocktail of chemicals keeps turning up on the fruits and vegetables people eat.

The “Dirty Dozen”: Superfoods with the Highest Pesticide Levels

1. Strawberries
2. Spinach
3. Kale
4. Peaches
5. Pears
6. Nectarines
7. Apples
8. Grapes
9. Bell and hot peppers
10. Cherries
11. Blueberries
12. Green beans

Superfoods with the Lowest (or No) Pesticide Levels

1. Avocado
2. Sweet corn
3. Pineapple
4. Onion
5. Peas
6. Asparagus
7. Melon
8. Kiwi
9. Cabbage
10. Mushrooms
11. Mango
12. Watermelon
13. Carrot