Apples Top 'Dirty Dozen' List For Carrying Most Pesticides

Apples have been singled out by an environmental group as being the biggest carrier of insecticides.

For the second year in a row, apples topped the Environmental Working Group's 'Dirty Dozen' list, which identified the most pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables in the US.

Organophosphorus Poisoning
Organosphosphorus compounds are used as insecticides and chemical warfare. They are easily accessible, thus they are a commonly associated with suicides and accidental poisoning.

Last year, apples knocked celery off the top spot, which this year ranks as the second biggest offender.

Sweet bell peppers were listed third in the line, according to the New York Daily News.

In the 8th edition of the Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce, researchers added kale and collard greens, which were also found to carry a highly toxic organophosphate insecticide, a toxin for the nervous system.

Organic Foods - 'Natural products'
Organic Foods are produced by the ‘natural method’, without the use of chemicals like pesticides, fertilizers or sewage sludge.

To come up with the rankings, the group analyzed residue testing data from the US Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration. Nectarines, blueberries, plums and cantaloupe were from both domestic and imported sources.

Meanwhile, a report from the European Food Safety Authority published last year identified grapes, bell peppers, aubergines, peas and wheat as carrying the most pesticides across Europe. The top pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables include:

Superfoods In Your Diet
Superfoods should be a part of daily diet as they are packed with nutrients and healing properties.But the best part is that they are tasty too!

1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Sweet bell peppers
4. Peaches
5. Strawberries
6. Nectarines-imported
7. Grapes
8. Spinach
9. Lettuce
10. Cucumbers
11. Blueberries-domestic
12. Potatoes

Source-ANI

An Apple a Day Can Indeed Keep the Doctor Away
Apples, through their high phytochemical content, have a beneficial effect on cancer, heart disease and lung function. They possess antioxidant, cholesterol lowering and antiproliferative properties.