Join us on the Thrive Carolinas podcast as we dive into the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) 2025 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce. This essential guide helps you make informed choices about the fruits and vegetables you eat, focusing on "how that produce is grown".

In this episode, we'll explore:

• The Dirty Dozen: Discover the fruits and vegetables most likely to carry high levels of pesticide residues. Learn how the 2025 report goes a step further, considering not just the amount of pesticide, but also "how toxic those chemicals are".
• New Additions and Concerning Contaminants: We'll discuss why blackberries and potatoes were added to this year’s Dirty Dozen due to concerning levels of contamination. 
  • For blackberries, over 93% of samples tested had pesticide residues, with many containing up to four different chemicals, including cypermethrin, which "may cross the placenta and impact fetal brain development" and is classified as a "possible carcinogen".
  • For potatoes, over 90% contained chlorpropham, a chemical used to prevent sprouting that is "banned in the European Union due to health risks, including thyroid disruption in animal studies".
• The Clean Fifteen: Find out about the produce with the lowest levels of pesticide contamination. These "safer picks" are great non-organic options with "little to no detectable pesticide residue," especially when organic isn't available.
• Why It Matters: Understand the growing awareness around chemical exposure in our food, with groups like the "Make America Healthy Again Commission" pointing to pesticides as "potential contributors to rising childhood chronic diseases".
• Practical Steps You Can Take: We'll share actionable advice to protect your health today, including buying organic for Dirty Dozen items, using the EWG guide at the grocery store or farmer's market, and thoroughly washing your produce.

Tune in to make more informed choices for a healthier summer!

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