Does Your Produce Contain High Levels of Pesticides?

July 2, 2012 - PRLog -- The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has released its 2012 “Dirty Dozen” list, which records the fruits and vegetables that the non-profit has found to be the most contaminated with pesticides.

The EWG’s intention by publishing the list is informing consumers who may want to choose organic options when purchasing the produce that are more likely to be contaminated when conventionally grown.

EWG’s “Dirty Dozen”
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

The EWG also mentions that although the green beans and leafy greens (i.e. kale, collard greens, etc.) did not meet the criteria to be on the “Dirty Dozen” list are often tainted by highly toxic organophosphate insecticides.

According to the non-profit, “These insecticides are toxic to the nervous system and have been largely removed from agriculture over the past decade. But they are not banned and still show up on some food crops.”

Commercial analytical labs can be a valuable a resource for consumers and organizations wishing to learn more about the chemicals in their food.

“EMSL Analytical, a testing lab founded in 1981, provides testing for a wide variety of chemical residues, including pesticides and fungicides on food that may pose a health threat to consumers,” states Shannon Kauffman, EMSL’s Food Chemistry Lab Manager. “Our experienced scientists perform both routine and custom analyses for our clients.”

For more information on EMSL’s food testing services, please contact EMSL at (800) 220-3675, email info@EMSL.com, or visit www.EMSL.com or www.FoodTestingLab.com.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a full service testing company providing quality lab services under the same private ownership since 1981. Including the corporate lab facility in Cinnaminson, NJ, EMSL Analytical operates over thirty laboratories nationwide in the US and Canada. We provide analytical services for environmental, indoor air quality (IAQ), industrial hygiene, forensics and materials science, consumer products, food safety, PCR, pharmaceutical, asbestos, lead, and radiological samples. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations, as well as state and federal regulating bodies.