The 2023 \u201cDirty Dozen\u201d list features the worst fruits and vegetables for toxic residue, including:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Strawberries<\/li>\n
- Spinach<\/li>\n
- Kale, collard, and mustard greens<\/li>\n
- Peaches<\/li>\n
- Pears<\/li>\n
- Nectarines<\/li>\n
- Apples<\/li>\n
- Grapes<\/li>\n
- Bell and hot peppers<\/li>\n
- Cherries<\/li>\n
- Blueberries<\/li>\n
- Green beans<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Amazingly, more than 90% of certain fruits and vegetables tested positive for the residue of two or more pesticides. And, a total of 210 different types of pesticides were found on the 12 fruits and vegetables above. Some individual fruits and vegetables had 10 to 23 pesticides in a single collected sample!<\/p>\n
The EWG also published its \u201cClean Fifteen,\u201d which includes produce with the lowest levels of toxic residue. The Clean Fifteen list included avocadoes, sweet corn, pineapple, onions, papaya, frozen sweet peas, asparagus, honeydew melon, kiwi, cabbage, mushrooms, mangoes, sweet potatoes, watermelon, and carrots.<\/p>\n
Pro Tip:<\/strong> Soak fruits and vegetables in ECOS Fruit + Veggie Wash<\/a> to remove dirt, wax, and other debris. Featuring vinegar as the active ingredient to remove residues, ECOS Fruit + Veggie Wash is made without phthalates, dyes, parabens, and phosphates.<\/p>\n
![\"Cleaning](\"https:\/\/mlcvmo0gntjk.i.optimole.com\/cb:ICH-.67306\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:90\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Cleaning-Vegetables-with-Fruit-and-Veggie-Wash.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nCertain Types of Fish<\/h2>\n
You may have heard about mercury in fish. It\u2019s true: certain types of fish have unhealthy levels of mercury. Because of bioaccumulation, these fish become loaded with mercury through the food chain before arriving on your plate.<\/p>\n
According to the Washington State Department of Health\u2019s Healthy Fish Guide<\/a>, some people (like pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children) should avoid the consumption of the following fish because of mercury and other toxins:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Mackerel (king)<\/li>\n
- Marlin (imported)<\/li>\n
- Swordfish (imported)<\/li>\n
- Tuna steak<\/li>\n
- Bluefin<\/li>\n
- Shark (mako and thresher from California or Hawaii)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Other types of fish are generally considered safe to eat, but you should limit yourself to one serving per week. Those fish include salmon, halibut, lobster, mahi mahi, monkfish, and tuna.\u2028\u2028<\/p>\n
![\"Mother](\"https:\/\/mlcvmo0gntjk.i.optimole.com\/cb:ICH-.67306\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:90\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Mother-and-Son-Baking-Together.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nChildren\u2019s Cereal<\/h3>\n
Many children eat cereal daily. However, surprising new reports have found disturbing levels of certain toxins in common children\u2019s cereal.<\/p>\n
According to testing by<\/a> the Center for Environmental Health and others, many children\u2019s breakfast cereals contain glyphosate<\/strong> and arsenic<\/strong>:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Glyphosate<\/strong> may sound familiar because it\u2019s the active ingredient in Monsanto\u2019s Roundup, the country\u2019s most popular weed killer. It\u2019s considered a \u201cprobable human carcinogen,\u201d or cancer-causing compound, by the World Health Organization<\/a>. Unfortunately, testing shows 70% to 93% of Americans have glyphosate in their urine samples, and that glyphosate residue in food has quadrupled in the last 25 years. Children, particularly 1 to 2 year olds, have a particularly high risk of glyphosate exposure and buildup.<\/li>\n
- Arsenic<\/strong>, meanwhile, is a naturally occurring substance in soil and water. As crops grow, the toxic metal remains present in the crop, entering the food supply. Rice may have a particularly high concentration of arsenic. Rice-based cereal and other rice-based foods could contain traces of arsenic, and those traces could disrupt human growth.<\/li>\n
- Other toxic compounds like BHA, BHT, and artificial food dyes.<\/strong> BHA and BHT are Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) by the FDA, which means they\u2019re considered safe for most adults to take in normal doses. However, some studies<\/a> have connected BHA and BHT to cancer and cognitive disorders. Artificial food dyes, meanwhile, are also considered safe, but some studies<\/a> have linked these chemicals to developmental issues in children.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Our endocrine system is responsible for regulating the body\u2019s production of hormones that are necessary for many biological processes. Switching to organic breakfast food and organic cereal can help.<\/p>\n
Grocery Store Receipts<\/h4>\n
Surprisingly, grocery store receipts could be a source of toxic exposure during your next trip.<\/p>\n
- Arsenic<\/strong>, meanwhile, is a naturally occurring substance in soil and water. As crops grow, the toxic metal remains present in the crop, entering the food supply. Rice may have a particularly high concentration of arsenic. Rice-based cereal and other rice-based foods could contain traces of arsenic, and those traces could disrupt human growth.<\/li>\n
- Glyphosate<\/strong> may sound familiar because it\u2019s the active ingredient in Monsanto\u2019s Roundup, the country\u2019s most popular weed killer. It\u2019s considered a \u201cprobable human carcinogen,\u201d or cancer-causing compound, by the World Health Organization<\/a>. Unfortunately, testing shows 70% to 93% of Americans have glyphosate in their urine samples, and that glyphosate residue in food has quadrupled in the last 25 years. Children, particularly 1 to 2 year olds, have a particularly high risk of glyphosate exposure and buildup.<\/li>\n
![\"Kid](\"https:\/\/mlcvmo0gntjk.i.optimole.com\/cb:ICH-.67306\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:90\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Kid-Cleaning-Apples-With-Organic-Fruit-and-Veggie-Wash.jpeg\")
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