Pesticides pose significant risk in 20% of fruits and veggies, report says

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Updated on: April 18, 2024 / 8:43 AM EDT / MoneyWatch How produce prescriptions can improve health Fruit and vegetable "prescriptions" can lead to better health, study finds 05:04 A healthy diet includes ample portions of fruits and vegetables, but not the unhealthy dose of pesticides found in about one in five of the produce examined by Consumer Reports.
An examination of 59 common fruits and vegetables found pesticides posed significant risks in 20% of them, from bell peppers, blueberries and green beans to potatoes and strawberries, according to findings published Thursday by the nonprofit consumer advocacy group.
In its most comprehensive review yet, CR said it analyzed seven years of data from the Department of Agriculture, which every year tests a selection of conventional and organic produce grown in or imported to the U.S. for pesticide residues.
In addition to finding unhealthy levels of chemicals used by farmers to control bugs, fungi and weeds, one food — green beans — had residues of a pesticide that hasn't been allowed for use on vegetables in the U.S. for more than a decade.