Last updated on 5 September 2024 by Brisbane Livewell Clinic Editorial Team
Fruit & Vegetables where the organic label means the most
According to the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization that analyzes the results of government pesticide testing in the U.S., the following fruits and vegetables have the highest pesticide levels, so are best to buy organic:
Avoid these foods if possible – or buy organic.
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Kale, collard, and mustard greens
- Peaches
- Pears
- Nectarines
- Apples
- Grapes
- Capsicum & Hot Peppers
- Cherries
- Blueberries
- Green Beans
Fruit & Vegetables you DON’T need to buy organic
Known as the “Clean 15”, these conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables are generally low in pesticides:
- Avocados
- Sweet corn
- Pineapple
- Onions
- Papaya
- Sweet peas (frozen)
- Asparagus
- Honeydew melon
- Kiwi
- Cabbage
- Mushrooms
- Mangoes
- Sweet Potatoes
- Watermelon
- Carrots
Buy organic meat, eggs and dairy if you can afford to
Industrially-raised animals may be fed corn, grains, antibiotics, animal byproducts, growth hormones, pesticides, and sewage sludge. These practices can have health consequences for both the animals themselves and people consuming their meat, eggs, or milk.
For further information on how to protect your family from pesticides, visit the EWG’s shoppers guide
