'Superfoods' like blueberries, spinach and kale are laced with dangerous ... trends now

'Superfoods' like blueberries, spinach and kale are laced with dangerous ... trends now
'Superfoods' like blueberries, spinach and kale are laced with dangerous ... trends now

'Superfoods' like blueberries, spinach and kale are laced with dangerous ... trends now

Blueberries, spinach and kale — each usually recognized as among the healthiest foods one can eat — have been named among produce with the most pesticides. 

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), based in Washington DC, named its 'dirty dozen' produce foods this week, a dubious honor reserved only for fruits and vegetables in America laced with the most chemicals.

Alongside the antioxidant-rich blueberries and leafy greens are other snacktime favorites such as strawberries, grapes, apples, nectarines, pears and cherries.

Peppers and green beans — which often find themselves into health-conscious recipes — were named on the ignominious list too.

The EWG studied 46 produce aisle staples for its study, and found that 75 percent of freshly grown produce in America contain residue of harmful pesticides. Human ingestion can damage the nervous system or even cause cancer.

More than 90 percent of samples of strawberries, apples, cherries, spinach, nectarines and grapes had at least two pesticides on them, the EWG found

More than 90 percent of samples of strawberries, apples, cherries, spinach, nectarines and grapes had at least two pesticides on them, the EWG found

Over 250 different pesticides were discovered on the fruits and vegetables, some of which have been barred in the US or Europe because of the effect they have on human health. 

For example, the neurotoxic organophosphate insecticide acephate, which was banned from use on green beans in 2011 showed up on six percent of green bean samples.

The insecticide is listed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a possible human carcinogen.

Both blueberries and green beans harbor worrying levels of organophosphate insecticides.

These can damage the human nervous system and is particularly poisonous for children's developing brains. 

Almost 10 percent of the blueberry

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