(See CRs produce ratings and find out which fruits and vegetables to pick, below.). sign CRs petition urging the EPA to ban the agricultural use of the riskiest pesticides and close loopholes that allow them to be used in the U.S. Editors Note: A version of this article also appeared in the October 2020 issue of Consumer Reports magazine. But about 20 percent, such as fresh green beans, peaches, and potatoes, received our worst scores; those are the ones its most important to try to buy organic. As a science journalist, my goal is to empower consumers to make informed decisions about health products, practices, and treatments. As they are intrinsically toxic and deliberately spread in the environment, the production, distribution, and use of pesticides require strict regulation and control. Thirty-one of 49 nonorganic fruits and vegetableswhich include fresh, frozen, dried, and cannedearn a rating of Good or higher in domestic and/or imported forms. Each pesticide has different properties and toxicological effects. Plenty of research bears this out. People facing greater economic and social challenges are also more likely to suffer harm from pesticide exposure, says Brenda Eskenazi, PhD, the studys director. The Harvard researchers also found that people who ate greater quantities of crops high in pesticides had higher levels of urinary pesticides and lower fertility.7,8 People who ate a pro-fertility diet, which included the low-pesticide crops, among other foods and nutrients, like whole grains and folic acid, were more likely to have a successful pregnancy.9. They factor in the total number of pesticides, the level of each on fruits and vegetables, the frequency with which they were detected, and their toxicity. All email addresses you provide will be used just for sending this story. Some of the older, cheaper pesticides can remain for years in soil and water. Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee, WHO pesticide evaluation scheme: 50 years of global leadership, The International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management, Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. They protect or increase yields and the number of times per year a crop can be grown on the same land. That includes famoxadone, a pesticide banned in organic farming and a possible hormone disruptor. Rempelos et al. Industry groups say that such residue on food doesnt pose a risk. (Note: Serving sizes are approximate.). In 2021, the EPA finally banned all uses of chlorpyrifos on crops grown for food. And even low levels have been linked to cancer, reproductive issues, and other health problems, she says. The ratings reflect the number of servings of a particular fruit or vegetable a person can eat per day over a lifetime before the pesticides pose potential harm. These chemicals have been banned by countries who signed the 2001 Stockholm Convention an international treaty that aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants. However, the effects on humans and the environment of exposure to pesticides are a continuing concern. Ratings for more than 120,000 food and personal care products, now at your fingertips. In 1991 the USDA initiated the Pesticide Data Program and began testing commodities annually for pesticide residues, but EWG remains concerned about pesticide regulation and oversight in the U.S. So scientists turn to other types of studies. CR recommends buying organic when possible, to reduce your pesticide exposure and protect the environment and farmworkers, says Charlotte Vallaeys, the senior policy analyst at CR who led our new pesticides study. But drift probably doesnt account for the Fair or Poor scores for three organic items: imported frozen cherries, imported fresh snap peas, and U.S.-grown fresh spinach. Food that is sold or donated (such as food aid) should comply with pesticide regulations, in particular with maximum residue limits. The most recent edition of the voluntary framework was published in 2014. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2012-2579. A critical part of a healthy diet includes a combination of fruits and vegetables, regardless of how they are grown. Sinking your teeth into a crisp apple or chomping on a stalk of celery is something you should be able to do without thinking. The 1996 law instructs it to screen for endocrine-disrupting effects. 4, Additional studies have linked higher consumption of organic foods to lower urinary pesticide levels, improved fertility and birth outcomes, reduced incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, lower BMI and reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes.2,3,5,6,7. EWG designed this method to capture this uncertainty and enable consumers to reduce their overall pesticide load. to ban pesticides that are most toxic to humans, as well as pesticides that remain for the longest time in the environment. James Hewitt, an EPA spokesperson, says the agencys standard evaluations include some assessment of endocrine effects. It falls chiefly to the EPA to decide which pesticides are approved for use in the U.S., including what conditions are placed on their approval and setting the pesticide residue levels on foods and crops. People who face the greatest health risks from exposure to pesticides are those who come into contact with them at work, in their home or garden. American Academy of Pediatrics, Organic Foods: Health and Environmental Advantages and Disadvantages. For example, those with inedible peels are peeled, and those with edible peels are rinsed under cold water and drained before they are tested. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that, in developing countries, 80% of the necessary increases in food production keep pace with population growth are projected to come from increases in yields and the number of times per year crops can be grown on the same land. They included the American Farm Bureau Federation, the American Soybean Association, the Cherry Marketing Institute and the United Fresh Produce Association one of the big agribusiness outfits that consistently attacks EWG for publishing its Shoppers Guide and informing the public about the presence of chlorpyrifos and other pesticides on produce. But with the exception of organophosphates, this safety margin has rarely been used. Papadopoulou, E., et al., Diet as a Source of Exposure to Environmental Contaminants for Pregnant Women and Children from Six European Countries. As in previous years, several pepper samples contain concerning levels of pesticides that can harm the nervous system, including oxamyl, acephate and chlorpyrifos carbamate and organophosphate insecticides banned from use on some U.S. crops and entirely in the EU. More than 90 percent of samples of strawberries, apples, cherries, spinach, nectarines and grapes tested positive for residues of two or more pesticides. Researchers from Harvard University used USDA test data and methods similar to EWG methodology to classify produce as having high or low pesticides. Canned and frozen versions are listed below the fresh versions, even if they have a different rating. Another limitation: Pesticides are usually regulated and studied by considering the effects of just a products active ingredient. Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, 2018; 28, 31-39. CR says the EPA needs to apply the law consistently. U.S. pesticide regulation, monitoring and enforcement is scattered across multiple federal and state agencies. For decades, chlorpyrifos was used on many fruits and vegetables, while the conventional agriculture and pesticide industries repeatedly downplayed the dangers it poses to both children and farmworkers. More than 70 percent of non-organic fresh produce sold in the U.S. contains residues of potentially harmful pesticides, EWGs 2022 Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce finds. To protect public health, and especially childrens health, from pesticides, EWG has called on President Joe Biden to ban or restrict some of the most harmful pesticides still used today . The guide includes EWGs Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen, two lists that provide a quick consumer reference about the most and least contaminated produce. (It would also provide stronger protections for farm workers and communities at the greatest risk of pesticide exposure.). Copyright 2022. Kale, collard and mustard greens, as well as hot peppers and bell peppers, had the most pesticides detected, 103 and 101 pesticides in total, respectively. The findings show that pesticide exposure in pregnant women and during childhood is linked to poor reflexes in infants (a sign of brain and nervous system problems), lower IQ, attention disorders, poorer lung function, and more. It does not incorporate risk assessment into the calculations. Many of the older, cheaper (off-patent) pesticides, such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and lindane, can remain for years in soil and water. A February 2020 analysis in the journal Environmental Health looked at 59 pesticide risk assessments from the EPA between 2011 and 2019. Known as the FQPA safety factor, it lowers the cap on pesticide residue from one one-hundredth to one one-thousandth of the amount found not to harm lab animals. Adv Nutr. JAMA Internal Medicine, 2018. Experts think this may contribute to some cancers and other health problems. Then we calculated a rating based on four factors: the number of pesticides detected on each item, the frequency with which pesticides were found on samples, the average amount of residue of each pesticide found on the items, and the toxicity of the pesticides. We also rated some frozen, canned, and dried items, for a total of 49 products. One particularly dangerous pesticide is chlorpyrifos, which scientists have definitively linked to brain damage in children and fetuses. Follow me on Twitter: Organic standards permit some pesticides, but they can be used only after nonchemical methods, such as crop rotation, have failed. While adults may have more servings, the relative risk remains the same; that is, an item rated Poor carries a higher risk than one rated Fair or better. In a 2010 study in the journal Pediatrics, children with a greater exposure to organophosphate pesticides were more likely to be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, known as ADHD. This includes agricultural workers who apply pesticides, and other people in the immediate area during and right after pesticides are spread. A spokesperson for the USDAs National Organic Program says fewer organic fruits and vegetables are tested than nonorganic, which may skew findings. Processed goods that are certified organic or bear Non-GMO Project Verified labels can also be trusted to be GMO-free. Avocados and sweet corn were the cleanest produce less than 2 percent of samples showed any detectable pesticides. In these cases, we displayed domestic and imported items separately to help consumers select the option with the lowest pesticide levels. This is particularly important in countries that face food shortages. Animal studies, which can provide clues to potential harms, are limited by significant biological differences between, say, rats and humans. EWG and other public health advocacy organizations have spent more than a decade urging the Environmental Protection Agency to prohibit chlorpyrifos from being applied to food crops. Available at. WHO, in collaboration with FAO, is responsible for assessing the risks to humans of pesticides both through direct exposure, and through residues in food and for recommending adequate protections. Diet and food type affect urinary pesticide residue excretion profiles in healthy individuals: results of a randomized controlled dietary intervention trial. Pesticides are chemicals that are specifically designed to kill living organisms, says Devon Payne-Sturges, DrPH, an associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Health in College Park. Farmers should limit the amount of pesticide used to the minimum necessary to protect their crops. See Methodology. Environmental Working Group. Starting in 1999, researchers began following hundreds of Latino childrenmany from before they were even bornin Salinas, Calif., an area where much of U.S. produce is grown. The EPA, which is responsible for overseeing pesticides, sets limits on how much residue is allowed on food. But the USDA has not analyzed these crops for glyphosate. When theres indication of fraud or other serious problems, the program investigates and, when the evidence warrants, removes the offender from the organic system. It found that the agency didnt apply the FQPA safety factor to more than 85 percent of nonorganophosphate pesticides. An EWG investigationpublished in 2020 found that for most pesticides, the EPA does not apply additional restrictions to safeguard childrens health. What does this mean for consumers? This year we removed three vegetables from the Clean Fifteen: broccoli, cauliflower and eggplant. Still, we realize organic can cost more, and that means it isnt always an option, Vallaeys says. Am J Clin Nutr. But anyone worried about consuming potentially harmful pesticides should know that many are found on many fruits and vegetables, even after they are washed, peeled or scrubbed, which the USDA does before testing. Eating organically produced food reduces pesticide exposure and is linked to a variety of health benefits, according to multiple studies, especially findings from a large study in France.2,3, Clinical trials continue to show that people who switched from conventionally grown to organic foods saw a rapid and dramatic reduction in their urinary pesticide concentrations, a marker of pesticide exposure. It guides government regulators, the private sector, civil society, and other stakeholders on best practices in managing pesticides throughout their lifecycle from production to disposal. Produce items are listed according to their U.S.-grown, nonorganic rating, except for bananas, which are only imported. CRs produce ratings and find out which fruits and vegetables to pick, February 2020 analysis in the journal Environmental Health, completed full endocrine screenings on only 52 pesticides, Protect Americas Children from Toxic Pesticides Act. The tests the EPA uses to approve pesticides dont take into account new evidence on pesticide harms, and it hasnt incorporated many new scientific techniques, he says. The effects of pesticides on the people who grow and harvest our food is a big part of the reason CR recommends buying organic when you can, says Charlotte Vallaeys, CRs senior policy analyst. The goal was to minimize the chance that risks are underestimated, says Chuck Benbrook, PhD, a consultant who helped develop CRs risk scores. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Key Findings of the French BioNutriNet Project on Organic Food-Based Diets: Description, Determinants, and Relationships to Health and the Environment. However, you may find genetically modified zucchini, yellow squash, sweet corn, papaya and apples in U.S. markets, though only papayas are predominantly GMO. EWG provides several resources including EWGs Shoppers Guide To Avoiding GMO Food, the Food Scores databaseand EWGs Healthy Living app to help consumers identify foods likely to contain genetically engineered ingredients. Nutrients, 2020; 12(1), 7. For each food, we calculated a total score by summing the normalized rank from each metric. They were organic and nonorganic, grown in the U.S. and imported. A farmers first consumer is his or her own family, so food safety is always their top priority, says Teresa Thorne, executive director of the Alliance for Food and Farming. USDA, Pesticide Data Program. EWGs Shoppers Guide ranks pesticide contamination on 46 popular fruits and vegetables by analyzing 44,702 samples taken by the USDA and the FDA. The serving sizes represent a childs portion, about two-thirds of an adult serving. Thats because they hadnt been tested by the USDA in six, seven and 14 years, respectively. Environmental Health Perspectives, 2019; 127(10). It can also depend on the route by which the exposure occurs (such as swallowing, inhaling, or direct contact with the skin). Which Brands Make the Most Reliable Appliances? And because this system is delicate, even small amounts of endocrine disruptors could have outsized effects, says Michael Hansen, PhD, CRs senior scientist. Yet the overall health impact of pesticides may be even greater because there are still many unanswered questions about the effects of long-term, low-dose exposure. But as of 2020, it has completed full endocrine screenings on only 52 pesticides. Nor does its review fully capture the risks posed by pesticides, because of limitations in available data and failures in risk assessments, such as the exclusion of synergistic effects. Other evidence suggests that pesticides disrupt the endocrine system, which is made up of hormones, the glands that produce them, and the receptors in the body that respond to them. Laws governing the use of pesticides on produce in the U.S. are based, at least in theory, on a philosophy of avoiding potential risk in the absence of definitive proof of their harm. People not directly involved in the spread of pesticides should stay away from the area during and just after a spread. The pesticide most frequently detected on collards, mustard greens and. Thats according to a new Consumer Reports analysis of five years of data from the Department of Agriculture collected from tests on fruits and vegetables to detect about 450 pesticides. From these studies, it is unclear whether the positive effects associated with organic foods are directly and exclusively caused by lower pesticide exposures. For example, insecticides tend to be more toxic to humans than herbicides. No commodities are tested annually, but some including baby food, last tested in 2013, and baby formula, last tested in 2014 are tested particularly infrequently. When people come into contact with large quantities of pesticide, this may cause acute poisoning or long-term health effects, including cancer and adverse effects on reproduction. The landmark 1996 Food Quality Protection Act required the EPA to protect childrens health by applying an extra margin of safety to legal limits for pesticides in food. These acceptable daily intakes are used by governments and international risk managers, such as the Codex Alimentarius Commission (the intergovernmental standards-setting body for food), to establish maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides in food. Sadly, theres a lot we dont know about the human health effects of pesticides in food, says CRs Vallaeys. When levels on organic and nonorganic are similar, government agencies should take a closer look.. Available at: www.ams.usda.gov/datasets/pdp. And when it has questions about compliance, it first contacts the certifier for that operation, who can usually help identify underlying issues and quickly bring the farm or business back into compliance. Percent of samples tested with detectable pesticides, Percent of samples with two or more detectable pesticides, Average number of pesticides found on a single sample, Average amount of pesticides found, in parts per million, Maximum number of pesticides found on a single sample, Total number of pesticides found on the crop.