{"id":16377,"date":"2025-07-30T09:00:38","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T13:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/?p=16377"},"modified":"2025-07-26T10:52:47","modified_gmt":"2025-07-26T14:52:47","slug":"neither-cherries-nor-peaches-this-is-the-no2-produce-with-the-most-pesticides-in-the-us-says-ewg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/nutrition\/food\/neither-cherries-nor-peaches-this-is-the-no2-produce-with-the-most-pesticides-in-the-us-says-ewg-16377\/","title":{"rendered":"Neither cherries nor peaches: this is the n\u00ba2 produce with the most pesticides in the US, says EWG"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) releases its Dirty Dozen list<\/strong><\/a>, an annual ranking of the fruits and vegetables most likely to carry pesticide residues, even after washing. It’s a go-to guide for shoppers who want to make safer choices at the grocery store.<\/p>\n

According to the latest analysis, strawberries rank second among all fresh produce for pesticide contamination in the United States<\/strong>, right after spinach<\/strong><\/a>. Here, we’ll break down why strawberries are near the top of the list, what chemicals are showing up on them, and which other produce items carry a similar risk.<\/p>\n

Strawberries and pesticide exposure<\/h2>\n

Strawberries are one of the most popular fruits in the US, with the average American eating about eight pounds a year. But along with that comes exposure to a cocktail of pesticide residues. USDA testing shows that almost all non-organic strawberry samples\u201499%\u2014had traces of at least one pesticide<\/strong>. Many had much more. One sample contained residues from 23 different pesticides and their breakdown products.<\/p>\n

These residues remain even after strawberries are picked, rinsed, and washed<\/strong><\/a>. In the most recent USDA testing, conventional strawberries averaged eight pesticides per sample<\/strong>. That mix can include fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides, some of which are linked to hormone disruption and reproductive harm.<\/p>\n

Two of the chemicals that turned up most often in strawberry samples are especially concerning. Carbendazim<\/strong>, a fungicide banned in the European Union for safety reasons, was found on 16% of samples. It can interfere with hormone function and may damage the male reproductive system. Another was bifenthrin<\/strong>, labeled a possible human carcinogen by the EPA and California regulators. It appeared on more than 29% of the samples.<\/p>\n

Other produce to keep an eye on<\/h2>\n

Strawberries may be the most contaminated fruit<\/a> after spinach, but they’re far from alone. EWG’s Dirty Dozen list includes a group of fruits and vegetables that consistently carry high levels of pesticide residues. Here are the others worth paying attention to:<\/p>\n