Dirty Dozen/Dirty Business

I read an article in the paper last week. The opening sentence said, "If you're looking for another reason not to eat spinach or kale, you now have one." The article was about the EWG's yearly report stating what fruits and vegetable contain the most pesticides. It is known as the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen report. I use this as a guide as to what should be bought organic and what is ok to buy conventionally.

I was taken by surprise that the first sentence was already a negative one. As you read further into the article, it quotes a lady by the name of Theresa Thorne, a spokesperson for the Alliance for Food and Farming. This non-profit describes itself as an organization representing organic and conventional farmers. Her view of the EWG report was not the same as mine. She stated that the EWG has been reporting on this for more than a decade and "it's time to move away from it." It makes no sense to me why someone would want to move away from the knowledge of what food you eat is covered in pesticides and what is not. She must have a monetary stake in this. I put on my detective hat and found some interesting info on the Alliance for Food and Farming. This non-profit acts as a front group for the fruit and vegetable industry, declaring the safety of numerous pesticides. According to my research, the group was formed in 1989 and currently has a membership of approximately 50 agricultural groups representing a wide range of organizations including commodity boards, major farm groups and individual grower/shippers. If you look at it's largest contributors they are all conventional farmers of many of the "Dirty Dozen" fruits and vegetables. Their board is also comprised of people who are running large conventional fruit operations like the California Strawberry Commission. Ironic that strawberries are the #1 dirty food and this organizations has board members from the strawberry commission? I think not. They want you to think that conventional is ok because they have a monetary stake in it. It's a huge conflict of interest. Wake up people!

Here is the current 2019 Dirty Dozen/Clean Fifteen list. It's a useful resource that should be used as much as possible. The more we demand clean food the more reasonable priced it will become. There is also an EWG Dirty dozen app for your phone. Makes it easy when you are out shopping.

https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php