This story was originally titled "Pesticides in Your Produce?" in the April 2008 issue. Subscribe to Canadian Living today and never miss an issue!

Walk into any large grocery store in the country and one of the first things you'll see is rows of fresh produce. It's never been easier for Canadians to meet their quota of five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, even in winter. But while there's no denying the nutritional benefits of biting into a crisp apple or munching on broccoli, many consumers wonder what else they're ingesting along with the good-for-you vitamins and fibre.

In particular, they're concerned about pesticide residue in those rosy-cheeked apples and other produce, and the long-term effects it could have on their family's health. Some studies have linked chronic exposure to pesticides with an increased risk of cancer, birth defects and neurological impairments such as Alzheimer's disease. So what's a health-conscious consumer to do?

You can start by being more selective about the produce you eat. It's possible to lower your pesticide exposure by almost 90 per cent if you avoid "The Dirty Dozen" and eat "The Consistently Clean," advises the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

The EWG, a nonprofit environmental research group in the U.S., published a list based on a five-year analysis, completed in 2005, that shows which foods consistently scored the highest in pesticide levels and toxicity and which scored the lowest. Though it's based on American information, the list (see "The Dirty Dozen," page 2) is still relevant to Canadians, given that 80 per cent of our produce is imported, the majority of it from the U.S. If you don't want to give up peaches, apples and strawberries – all high on the hit list – the EWG suggests replacing them with organic alternatives. But keep in mind, organic does not mean 100 per cent pesticide-free, either (see "The Lowdown on Organics," page 3).

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