Nikki thought she was allergic to fruit because every time she ate them her mouth and other body parts would tingle and itch. She decided to try eating organic produce and her problem ceased. Though she doesn’t know for sure, she suspects that she may be allergic to one of the pesticides used to grow conventional produce. Her story reminds us that eating fruits and vegetables can be risky business with the number of genetically modified organisms, pesticides and other contaminants used to produce them.

Even with these threats, we need to make sure to eat our daily complement of produce. To help you, the Environmental Working Group, a healthy environment advocacy group, annually produces The Dirty Dozen, a list of the most contaminated produce, so you make a more healthy choice, like buying organic.

The Dirty Dozen
1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches
5. Spinach
6. Nectarines (Imported)
7. Grapes (Imported)
8. Sweet Bell Peppers
9. Potatoes
10. Blueberries (Domestic)
11. Lettuce
12. Kale/Collard Greens

Also check out the 15 Clean List (http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/) to see which fruits and vegetables have the least pesticide residue. to see which fruits and vegetables have the least pesticide residue.