All articles tagged with #produce
A 2026 Shopper’s Guide from the Environmental Working Group flags PFAS (forever chemicals) and other pesticide residues on common fruits and vegetables, with spinach and kale topping the Dirty Dozen and items like strawberries, grapes, nectarines, peaches, cherries, apples, and pears also contaminated; the guide highlights the Clean Fifteen as lower‑residue options, while regulators note action when levels pose health concerns.
Supreme Produce has voluntarily recalled cucumbers sold at Kroger stores across nine states due to potential Salmonella contamination linked to a recent outbreak that has caused 26 illnesses across 15 states. Consumers are advised to discard the affected products, which include various cucumber and salad trays, as no illnesses have been reported from Supreme Produce products to date.
Consumer Reports' comprehensive review of pesticides in 59 common fruits and vegetables found that about 20% contained risky levels of pesticide residues, with imported produce, especially from Mexico, being particularly likely to carry these residues. The report highlighted specific high-risk foods and suggested substitutions, emphasizing that certain pesticides pose serious health concerns, especially for children and pregnant women. Consumer Reports recommended limiting consumption of high-risk foods and opting for organic alternatives where possible.
The Environmental Working Group's 2024 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce report reveals that strawberries, spinach, and other fruits and vegetables contain pesticide residues, with strawberries ranking highest on the "Dirty Dozen" list for several years. The report, based on USDA and FDA data, found traces of pesticides in 254 samples of 46 produce items, raising concerns about potential health risks associated with pesticide exposure.
The 2024 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce reveals that nonorganic strawberries, leafy greens, and other fruits contain detectable levels of pesticides, with the "Dirty Dozen" list including the most contaminated produce. Pesticides have been linked to various health issues, and farmworkers are at the highest risk. On the other hand, the "Clean Fifteen" list features conventionally grown produce with the least amount of trace pesticides. While legal limits for pesticide levels are in place, concerns remain about the safety of these chemicals. The report advises consumers to opt for organic versions of the "Dirty Dozen" and emphasizes the importance of consuming fruits and vegetables, whether conventionally grown or organic.
A study conducted on 4,000 individuals with diabetes, obesity, or hypertension found that providing produce vouchers for fruits and vegetables resulted in significant improvements in A1C levels and diastolic blood pressure. While not as effective as medication, a produce-heavy diet was about half as effective, highlighting the potential of dietary tweaks in managing diet-related diseases. Experts suggest that building community health programs centered around increasing produce consumption could have a long-term impact on improving health and making better lifestyle choices. Fruits and vegetables, rich in phytonutrients, play a crucial role in preventing and managing diseases. The recommendation is to aim for at least five servings of produce daily, focusing on a variety of colors on the plate.
Home gardeners in Lehi, Utah, are concerned about the health of their home-grown fruits and vegetables after E. coli was found in the city's irrigation water. While human pathogens in irrigation water do not directly impact produce, they pose a risk to humans when consumed. Utah State University Assistant Professor Shital Poudyal advises cooking produce to 165 degrees or higher to kill any potential E. coli contamination. Some home gardeners, like Misty Sudweeks, are opting to cook all their garden produce instead of consuming it fresh.
Blueberries and green beans have joined the Dirty Dozen list of nonorganic produce with the most pesticides, according to the Environmental Working Group's 2023 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce. The report analyzed testing data on 46,569 samples of 46 fruits and vegetables conducted by the US Department of Agriculture. Avocados topped the list of least contaminated produce, followed by sweet corn. Nearly 65% of the foods on the Clean 15 list had no detectable levels of pesticide. Experts suggest choosing organic versions of the most contaminated crops or washing produce thoroughly with water to reduce pesticide levels.