Two seemingly healthy items added to ‘dirty dozen’ list – and you likely have them in your pantry

TWO healthy food items have surprisingly been added to a “dirty dozen” list due to possible contamination.

But the environmental group which released its updated guide has been slammed for being “misleading” shoppers.

Getty

Two pantry staples have ended up on the Environmental Working Group’s “dirty dozen” list[/caption]

Alamy

Blackberries are a surprise addition to the EWG’s “dirty dozen” list[/caption]

Alamy

The humble spud has also ended up on the list, for containing chlorpropham, a sprout inhibitor used post-harvest[/caption]

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) yesterday revealed its new shopper’s guide to produce tainted with harmful pesticides.

It looks at Department of Agriculture data to review pesticide residues on many popular fruits and vegetables.

The group announced that almost 60% of samples of conventionally grown fruit and vegetables on its “clean 15” list had no detectable pesticide residues.

However, there were a couple of surprise additions to its dirty dozen list – whose produce “contained residues of potentially harmful pesticides.”

The EWG has added blackberries and potatoes to the list, ranking the popular fruit and veg 10th and 12th respectively.

Their addition to the infamous list was based on new data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which tested blackberries for the first time two years ago.

The group announced, “Blackberries and potatoes made this year’s dirty dozen.

“That’s based on the USDA’s first-time tests of blackberries, which found 93% of samples had pesticide residues, for an average of four different pesticides per sample.

“The pesticide cypermethrin, classified as a possible human carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency, was detected on just over half of conventional blackberry samples.

“For potatoes, new USDA data revealed that 90% of samples contained chlorpropham, a sprout inhibitor used post-harvest.

“The European Union banned use of the chemical in 2019 due to health concerns for both farmers and consumers.

“In total, more than 50 different pesticides were found on samples from each of the dirty dozen fruits and vegetables, except for cherries.

“Every commodity except potatoes had on average four or more pesticides detected on individual samples.”

But these claims have annoyed the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), which has released a statement questioning the findings.

It highlighted that it was difficult enough to encourage Americans to eat more fruit and veg, without “sowing fear.”

It said the association had “joined nutritionists and scientists in raising concerns about the group’s latest publication.

“The claims in this report are not only misleading — they’re dangerously counterproductive to our nation’s public health goals.

“Fruits and vegetables are the foundation of a healthy diet and one of the most effective tools we have for preventing chronic, diet-related diseases.

“Yet, today, 90 percent of Americans fall short of the recommended daily intake of these essential foods — a public health crisis we can and must urgently address.”

DISCOURAGING

Harvard University warned in 2018 that a failure to consume enough veg and fruit “can harm your health, putting you at higher risk for diabetes and heart disease and even certain cancers, not to mention leaving you at risk for nutritional deficiencies.”

The IFPA lashed out at the EWG, saying it didn’t “make sense to discourage people from eating produce.”

Rather than sowing fear, we need a national, coordinated effort to increase fruit and vegetable consumption

IFPA

It added, “This kind of unfounded rhetoric harms consumers and unfairly threatens the livelihoods of American farmers, who work tirelessly to grow safe, nutritious food for their communities.

“Baseless attacks on fruit and vegetable growers only undermine efforts to improve diets in a country where 70% of what we eat is ultra-processed, and where chronic disease costs our economy more than $1 trillion annually in healthcare and lost productivity.”

SAFE TO EAT

The association defended farmers and federal agencies, saying the latter “rigorously review crop protection tools through science-based processes to ensure their safety.”

It also accused the report’s authors of “conveniently ignoring that the USDA’s pesticide data program consistently finds that produce sold in the U.S. meets or exceeds the EPA’s strict safety standards.”

The IFPA said it would be better if the environmental group supported efforts in aid of improving Americans’ health.

It added, “Rather than sowing fear, we need a national, coordinated effort to increase fruit and vegetable consumption — and empower farmers to keep providing abundant, affordable, and safe produce for every American table.”

There was a mixed reaction on social media to the “dirty dozen” list, with some accusing the EWG of “fear-mongering.”

But the group responded, “Our shopper’s guide isn’t here to scare anyone off produce.

“It’s simply a resource for those who want to be more mindful about pesticide exposure.

“Extensive research shows that even small doses, especially over long periods during vulnerable life stages like pregnancy and childhood, or when combined with other chemicals, can still cause harm.”

SCRUB PRODUCE

There was confusion over how to safely consume any fruit and veg that might be tainted with pesticides.

The group suggested, “We recommend washing with running water for at least 20 seconds and using clean hands to rub or scrub produce.

“Avoid soaps, detergents, bleach and produce washes – there’s not enough evidence they’re safe or effective.”

Mexico is currently the top supplier of fresh berries to the United States, according to a USDA report.

In 2024, about 930,000 acres of land in the U.S. were planted with potatoes, of which roughly 925,400 acres were harvested, reported Statista.