A new study suggests that the kinds of fruits and vegetables you eat can influence how much pesticide ends up in your body.
Researchers at the Environmental Working Group (EWG) combined U.S. Department of Agriculture residue data with CDC biomonitoring results from nearly 1,900 people. They found that participants who ate produce known to carry higher pesticide residues, like strawberries, spinach and bell peppers, had higher pesticide levels in their urine than those who mostly ate lower-residue items.
“The findings reinforce that what we eat directly affects the level of pesticides in our bodies,” said Alexis Temkin, Ph.D., lead author of the study. “Eating produce is essential to a healthy diet, but it can also increase exposure to pesticides.”
The study, published in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, tracked 15 pesticide biomarkers across three major chemical classes. In total, USDA produce samples contained measurable residues of 178 different pesticides. Only 42 of these matched the CDC’s biomonitoring data, underscoring how much remains unknown about cumulative exposures.
Notably, the link between diet and pesticide levels only became clear once potatoes were excluded from the analysis. Researchers say that’s because potatoes are eaten in so many forms, including fried, baked or mashed, making it harder to estimate residue exposure.
Despite the findings, the authors emphasized that fruits and vegetables are still vital for good health. Prior research shows switching from conventional produce to organic can lower pesticide biomarkers in the body within days.
“Young children and pregnant people are particularly susceptible to the harms from exposure,” Temkin noted.
For consumers, experts recommend continuing to eat plenty of produce but when possible, choosing organic options for the fruits and vegetables most likely to carry residues.
EWG’s annual Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce features a “Dirty Dozen” list of items with the highest residues and a “Clean Fifteen” with the lowest. While those guides are popular with consumers, some experts have criticized EWG for overstating the health risks of pesticide residues.
Still, because this research drew on robust federal data from USDA produce testing and CDC biomonitoring, it provides useful evidence of how diet can influence exposure, even if the long-term health effects remain less certain.
EWG research for this study was supported in part by the Skyline Foundation and general donations from members of the public.