PHILADELPHIA Strawberries continue to lead the Dirty Dozen list of fruits and veggies that contain the highest levels of pesticides, followed by spinach, a trio of greens kale, collard and mustard nectarines, apples, and grapes, according to the Environmental Working Group s 2021 Shopper s Guide to Pesticides in Produce.
Cherries came in seventh on the list of the 46 most contaminated foods, followed by peaches, pears, bell and hot peppers, celery, and tomatoes.
Avoiding pesticides is especially critical for babies and children, experts say, because of the damage they can cause to the developing brain. A 2020 study found an increase in IQ loss and intellectual disability in children due to exposure to organophosphates, a common class of pesticides.