Source: Fortune
Summary
Spinach has topped the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) “Dirty Dozen” list of conventionally grown produce with the most residual pesticides for the second consecutive year. The list is based on data from the USDA’s Pesticide Data Program, which found an average of seven pesticides on each of 642 conventional spinach samples tested in 2016. The EWG suggests buying organic or frozen versions of produce on the list and thoroughly washing all fruits and vegetables. The Alliance for Food and Farming, a nonprofit trade group, criticized the report for “villainizing” safe and healthy produce.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story.
Spinach, kale, and strawberries top the Dirty Dozen list, while the Alliance for Food and Farming claims the report misrepresents USDA pesticide data. The EWG suggests buying organic, while the AFF says this will only lead to lower-income consumers avoiding fruits and vegetables altogether. The USDA’s testing methods mimic kitchen routines, but the data is from 2016. Consumers are split on whether the benefits of eating produce grown with pesticides outweigh the risks.
The announcement sounds like a familiar debate.
Author: Evan Null
