Organic or conventional? When to spend or save

By JOHN EWOLDT, Star Tribune

Last update: May 17, 2008 - 4:01 PM

Prices on organic foods have fallen, but price still is an important consideration. Some organic items can cost almost twice as much as conventional (non-organic), according to Consumer Reports. But consumers should not assume that all conventional produce has similar amounts of contamination.

The Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit environmental research organization based in Washington, D.C., compiled a list of the most and least contaminated fruits and vegetables, based on more than 43,000 tests for pesticides done between 2000 and 2005 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. For a complete list of 44 fruits and vegetables, go to www.foodnews.org.

12 most contaminated foods -- consider organic

Peaches (highest pesticide load)

Apples

Sweet bell peppers

Celery

Nectarines

Strawberries

Cherries

Lettuce

Grapes (imported)

Pears

Spinach

Potatoes

12 least contaminated foods -- consider conventional or organic

Onions (lowest pesticide load)

Avocado

Sweet corn (frozen)

Pineapples

Mango

Sweet peas (frozen)

Asparagus

Kiwi

Bananas

Cabbage

Broccoli

Eggplant

JOHN EWOLDT

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