These fruits and vegetables rank highest in pesticide residue. How harmful are they really? Experts weigh in

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These fruits and vegetables rank highest in pesticide residue. How harmful are they really? Experts weigh in - Yahoo​

Certain types of produce, such as strawberries, have higher amounts of pesticides than others. But how harmful is it? (Getty Images)
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) recently released its annual Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, which includes two lists: the “Dirty Dozen” and the “Clean Fifteen,” which rank which types of fruits and vegetables have the highest and lowest levels of pesticide residue, respectively.

But what should consumers do with this information? And how harmful is it to eat fruits and vegetables with pesticide residue? Here’s what you need to know, according to experts, including how to still safely consume your favorite produce.

What is the “Dirty Dozen”?​

The EWG’s Dirty Dozen is a list of nonorganic foods with the most pesticide residues. The EWG analyzes recent testing samples from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Pesticide Data Program (PDP) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For realistic consumer data, the USDA washes, scrubs and peels (if necessary) fruits and vegetables, just as people normally would, and then tests for pesticides.