“An apple a day keeps the doctor away… right? Maybe an organic apple. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), apples are the “dirtiest” or most pesticide-contaminated fruit in the grocery store, and one of 12 commonly-eaten fruits and veggies that consistently carry high traces of chemical pesticides, even after they’ve been peeled and pulped for your baby. The EWG advises seeking out organic versions of the “dirty dozen” foods on the list–which includes lettuce, grapes, and potatoes – in order to reduce exposure to pesticides by a whopping 90%.
Organic versions of eggs, meat, poultry, rice, dairy products, and baby food are also a much safer bet than their chemical-laden counterparts. On the other hand, when it comes to a score of other produce, plus pasta, you can safely buy non-organic. You can also keep costs down by shopping at farmer’s markets, food coops, and discount chains like Trader Joe’s, and by opting for locally grown and in-season items whenever possible.
Here’s the 2019 EWG’s list of the “dirty dozen” fruits and veggies to buy organic, and the 2019 list of the 15 fruits and veggies that are considered ok to buy conventional varieties. That means they won’t give your baby a dose of pesticides if you buy conventional varieties.
The “Dirty Dozen:” 12 Foods to Buy Organic
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Kale
- Nectarines
- Apples
- Grapes
- Peaches
- Cherries
- Pears
- Tomatoes
- Celery
- Potatoes
15 Organic Foods You Don’t Need to Worry About
- Avocado
- Sweet Corn
- Pineapples
- Sweet Frozen Peas
- Onions
- Papayas
- Eggplants
- Asparagus
- Kiwis
- Cabbages
- Cauliflowers
- Cantaloupes
- Broccoli
- Mushrooms
- Honeydew Melons
