When budgets are tight, it’s important to know which fruit and veg are safe to buy non-organic, and which are the ones that you really should be shelling out the extra for.
More and more scientists agree these days that even small doses of pesticides and other chemicals can cause lasting damage to human health, and should especially be avoided by pregnant women and small children. But there is enough evidence to suggest that we should all be minimizing our consumption of pesticides.
Washing fruit can help to reduce the pesticide load, but it doesn’t completely eliminate it. Peeling is more effective at getting rid of the pesticides, but you lose so many nutrients by peeling that it negates the benefit.
The Environmental Working Group (who publishes this printable pdf list for keeping in your wallet) recommends eating a varied diet, washing all your fruit and vegetables before eating, and buying organic when possible.
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