Few things are more refreshing than the sweet-tart bite of a just-off-the-branch apple. Laden with nutrients like fiber, heart-healthy quercetin, and polyphenols, this white-fleshed fruit even has tooth-scrubbing properties. But according to the Environmental Working Group, pesticides showed up on 98 percent of 700 conventional apples recently sampled, even after they were washed. Need more convincing to buy organic?
- Apples are one of the top fruits that American children consume.
- Conventional applesauce, another kid favorite, can retain pesticides.
- Even EPA-approved organo- phosphate pesticide levels may contribute to human brain and nervous system disruption, according to recent studies.
- Apples are frequently sprayed with Paraquat, a pesticide that may cause Parkinson’s disease.
- Pesticide spraying, runoff, or drift can directly harm the health of families living in agricultural communities.
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