Pesticides are often used in agriculture to control pests in food crops and, as the EPA reports, are all potentially harmful to humans and animals. Possible serious health concerns are nerve damage, birth defects and cancer. However, those who consider improving their health and the environment by choosing organic foods, or those grown without the use of synthetically manufactured pesticides, may be deterred by the potential cost of buying organic food.
The non-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG) addressed this concern with the release of a shopping guide to assist consumers by explaining which foods are most likely to be negatively effected by pesticides and which foods should be purchased organic whenever possible. By using data collected from the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food and Drug Administration, the EWG states that foods such as avocado, pineapple, onion and corn, which tend to have thicker skins or other protective qualities are lowest in pesticides, while foods such as celery, peaches and strawberries should be purchased organically to avoid high levels of pesticides.
