Produce, pesticides, and the "Dirty Dozen"

Although everybody already knows it's important to wash all fruits and vegetables before you eat or cook with them, it is more important for some than others. The Environmental Working Group has recently published its fourth edition of The Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce. The guide ranks 43 common fruits and vegetables, from most pesticides present to least, based on testing by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Whether you're interested in possibly avoiding some of the higher ranked foods, or just want to be a more informed consumer, the handy pocket-sized guide might be worth a look.

Which fruits and veggies are the worst? The top twelve, called the "Dirty Dozen," includes peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, imported grapes, spinach, lettuce and potatoes. Of course, all my favorites! I'll just have to make sure I wash them extra thoroughly.