That's because 98 percent of conventionally grown apples were found to be contaminated with pesticides, according to a new study released by the Environmental Working Group on Monday. And that was AFTER they had been washed.
That puts apples right at the top of their "Dirty Dozen" list of produce that consumers should buy organic whenever possible.
“Though buying organic is always the best choice, we know that sometimes people do not have access to that produce or cannot afford it,” said EWG President Ken Cook. “Our guide helps consumers concerned about pesticides to make better choices among conventional produce, and lets them know which fruits and vegetables they may want to buy organic.”
This was the seventh year in a row that EWG analyzed 53 fruits and vegetables and found many containing pesticides even after they were washed and peeled.
The 12 with the highest contamination levels get the dubious honor of landing on the "Dirty Dozen" list. Those with the lowest concentrations of pesticides make the "Clean 15" list.
Among the other notable findings this year:
Herb cilantro makes an appearance for the first time. EWG found 33 unapproved pesticides on nearly half of all the cilantro samples tested, the highest percentage of unapproved pesticides on any item tested since the EWG started tracking data in 1995.
Cherries dropped off the dirty dozen list, but lettuce found its way back on.
Pesticides are associated with a host of health problems in humans, including neurological deficits, ADHD, endocrine system disruption, and cancer.
The EWG estimates that consumers who choose five servings of fruits and vegetables from the Clean 15 list rather than the Dirty Dozen list can reduce their consumption of pesticides by 92 percent.
