The Environmental Working Group (EWG) releases an annual “dirty dozen” list to persuade consumers to stop buying conventionally grown fruits and vegetables and turn to organic produce. The website even says “EWG helps protect your family from pesticides,” and then proceeds to ask for a donation. There has been a significant amount of research and the list has been debunked by scientists repeatedly. Creators of the list state that they don’t follow the established risk assessment protocols when creating the list, which means that it has no supported claims. In other words, the list is false.
For example, there is peer-reviewed research finding that switching from conventionally grown produce to organic doesn’t lower consumer risk because traces of pesticide residue on conventional fruits and vegetables are next to nothing. The Environmental Working Group claims to base the development of their list off of the USDA’s Pesticide Data Program.
If this were true, the list wouldn’t be created because the USDA reports that they continue to find 99% of produce samples that are tested are coming back with residue levels far below the safety guidelines by the Environmental Protection Agency. If that isn’t enough, over 40% of the samples have no pesticide residue found on them at all. Going back to EWG’s “dirty dozen” report, you can see that the group even says, “we do not factor in the levels deemed acceptable by the EPA.”
The list is created to be used as a scare tactic in hopes that people online don’t question the credibility of the EWG or look into how the list is created. The EWG wants to sway consumers to stay away from conventionally grown fruits and vegetables by claiming that if they aren’t organic, they’re covered in pesticide residue, which is untrue. According to the Federal Food and Drug Administration, if you’re worried about residue, all you need to do is wash produce with water from the sink.
Being mindful of a healthy diet is important, but so is being mindful of the sources you get your information from because they may have a hidden agenda like the EWG.
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