(NaturalHealth365)  For some, constantly running to the supermarket for fresh fruits and veggies can start to feel like a part-time job.  However, a recent Consumer Reports analysis gives us more reason to pay attention to what we’re putting in our carts.

The report uncovers alarming levels of toxic pesticides in produce.  The data from the Department of Agriculture’s annual pesticide residue analysis looks at fruits and vegetables grown in the U.S. and imported from abroad.

How the Consumer Reports analysis differs from that of the infamous EWG “Dirty Dozen”

Many have heard of the Environmental Working Group (EWG) report highlighting the Dirty Dozen fruits and veggies with unsafe levels of pesticide residue.  The Consumer Reports piece linked above primarily differs from the EWG report in terms of sourcing.

Consumer Reports studied a whopping seven years of pesticide data on nearly 60 different types of fruits and vegetables.  The EWG report pulls information from the data reported by the USDA but differs in its interpretation and ranking of the specific residue levels.  EWG’s primary focus is to zero in on the dirtiest produce.

In contrast, Consumer Reports’ reporting zooms out for a wide-angle view of the level of pesticide contamination in vegetables, fruits, and even the frozen and canned varieties of those foods.

Your favorite fruits and vegetables might be covered in toxic pesticides

Consumer Reports studied the data on 29,643 samples of vegetables and fruits.  Though pesticides facilitate efficient produce growth by thwarting fungi, bugs, and weeds, those chemicals harm human health.

Among the fruits and veggies analyzed, 20% were found to carry a significant health risk due to pesticide use.  Some of the worst offenders included strawberries, blueberries, bell peppers, and green beans.  Green beans topped the list due to a residue level from a pesticide that hasn’t been allowed on vegetables for over a decade.

Watermelon was also flagged as high-risk because of a pesticide called oxamyl, with 11 out of 331 samples testing positive.  Additionally, chlorpropham was detected in 90% of potatoes, raising further concerns.

The analysis highlighted that fruits and vegetables imported, mainly from Mexico, were especially likely to be risky for elevated levels of toxic pesticide residue.

Solutions to avoid pesticide-laden food

Grabbing produce from a convenience store might seem easy, but those fruits and veggies often come with a hefty dose of pesticides.  And when dining out, there’s no way to be sure the produce is pesticide-free.

On the bright side, many grocery stores now offer organic options, and farmers’ markets are great places to find fresh, pesticide-free produce.  If you’re up for it, you could even grow your own organic fruits and veggies.  Setting up a hydroponic garden at home takes some work, but the payoff is worth it.

While it’s tough to completely avoid toxic pesticides unless you go all-organic, you can still make healthier choices by picking low-risk fruits and veggies.  For example, if you must choose from conventionally grown produce, sweet potatoes are better than white potatoes, and cantaloupe is safer than watermelon.

Additionally, washing produce thoroughly under running water can help reduce pesticide residues, though it won’t remove all traces.  Peeling fruits and vegetables can also help, as pesticides often reside on the skin.  Lastly, consider buying seasonal produce, which is often fresher and may have been exposed to fewer chemicals.

Sources for this article include:

Consumerreports.org