Partner content: The "Dirty Dozen" list
Question: Should I buy my fruits and vegetables based on the “Dirty Dozen” list?
Answer: No, that list comes out annually and amounts to little more than fearmongering about food and shouldn’t discourage you from buying or eating any fruits and vegetables. The group that does the list has been engaged in misinformation and exaggeration for many years as a way of raising money for themselves. If you are concerned about the possibility of pesticide residue; the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tests and checks samples of fruits and vegetables every year and is able to detect residue at very, very small amounts (parts per billion) and rarely do any fruits or vegetables have detectable pesticide residue. Always make sure you wash whatever fruits and vegetables you purchase before eating it. To learn more about the safety of our fruits and vegetables be sure to visit: safefruitsandveggies.com and especially check out their pesticide residue calculator.
Leah McGrath, RDN, LDN
Ingles Markets Corporate Dietitian
facebook.com/LeahMcgrathDietitian
800-334-4936
