18 Foods You DON’T Need To Buy Organic

Organic eating can be more expensive than eating normal, so this list of foods in this article will be a lot easier on the pocket.

Plus you will be safe in the knowledge that eating these foods won’t harm your health.

The list of foods below will contain the least amount of pesticide residue when compared to other healthy foods.

The lower the level of pesticide residue will mean the lower the amount of harmful chemicals that enter your body.

These foods are not harmed by toxins so will not have lost so much of their nutritional goodness during the growing phase.

Probably the number 1 reason why more people don’t eat organic is PRICE.

Going 100% organic is impossible, so by making smart choices like eating from the list below you should help to maintain your good health.

I have also previously stated that if you know the source and you know that the production of the food is clean then you don’t need to eat organically. This applies to all foods, as long as you trust the source you will be fine.

So here we go with the list:

Onions – There isn’t too much threat from pests for onions which means that farmers can get away with not using many pesticides on the onions. Onions are actually naturally resistant to pests. Just make sure the onions you pick have no damage and store them in a cool place or in the fridge.

Avocado – Due to the thick, resilient skin of the avocado it is hard for pesticides to break through. Look for ones which aren’t too ripe and are nice and firm.

Sweet corn – Buy fresh, delicious sweet corn from a local source if possible and you will struggle to beat the taste, they are in season late summer, so sadly we have just missed them.

Pineapple – Due to the tough protective skin of the pineapple the fruit is protected. Be careful though with the smell. The sweeter the smell the more ripe it is and it will have begun to ferment.

Grapefruit – Once again the thick skin comes to the rescue with this food to help keep out the pesticides.

Mango – This is another fruit which is heavily protected from pesticides by its think skin. The best ones to buy will be colourful and have a rich fruity smell. If the mango is too soft it will probably be rotten inside so try to get one fairly firm.

Asparagus – Not too many insects or pests go after the asparagus crop so less spraying is needed.

Peas – According to a survey by the environmental working group peas are the least likely to have pesticide residue on. These are delicious if you grow them in the garden or can get them fresh from a local farmer.

Kiwis – The peel on the outside protects the kiwis from any pesticide residue slipping into the fruit. Try to avoid any kiwis which are too soft and have bruised and damaged areas. Keep in the fridge.

Cabbage – Pesticides aren’t really used to grow cabbage so there should be very little residue left on the cabbage when it makes it into your kitchen. Just make sure the cabbage is nice and firm and give it a good wash.

Aubergine – An aubergine’s thick skin does a good job of keeping out pesticides and chemicals used in the growing process. Firm and glossy aubergines are the ones you should aim to buy.

Papaya – The pesticide residue can stay on the skin of the papaya so you will need to give it a good wash. The best ones will be fairly soft to touch and have no visible damage.

Watermelon – Watermelons are great at keeping out harmful chemicals and toxins. Aim for the watermelons which are firm and don’t contain soft spots.

Cantaloupe – Same reasons apply as above, the thick skin is very protective.

Broccoli – You shouldn’t have to worry about eating non organic broccoli, broccoli crops don’t face too many pest threats which means it doesn’t have to be sprayed so much by pesticides. Look out for deep green broccoli with firm stalks. Always wash 2-3 times before eating and store in the fridge.

Tomato – Cherry tomatoes were on the list of foods you need to eat organic but if you are growing your own or buying fresh in season tomatoes you should be okay. Firm and glossy tomatoes from the garden are a great, tasty addition to many meals. If its mishaped don’t worry, it just shows it more natural.

Sweet potato – Sweet potatoes are a superfood, they’re packed with so much goodness. You don’t have to worry about pesticide residue on your sweet potatoes so you are free to enjoy!

Mushrooms – There are loads of benefits from eating mushrooms and you don’t want to miss out on them. You can get away with not buying organic mushrooms from the supermarket, if you do want to go one better though try growing them yourself or picking them up from a fresh farmers market.

(Adapted from the clean 15)

So there we have the list of 18 foods you don’t need to buy organically.

The one thing you need to ensure before eating these foods is to give them a wash and peel them. This should help to make sure that all remaining pesticide residue is removed.

It is important to get into a habit of doing this with all of your fresh fruit and veg (even organic). Wash first before peeling, cutting or anything else.

Buyer Beware

Remember our good old “trusty” government set the organic standards.

In 2007 they allowed organic farmers to use toxic pesticide chemicals because of the potato blight which nearly wiped out entire crops.

By the look of it, as usual when money is involved rules can be changed.

The organic label has become a very desirable marketing tool. It is after all the fastest growing area in the supermarkets.

Some of the small local organic food producers have now been bought out by big multinational companies and in my opinion will try to reduce the quality when they mass produce it.

In most European countries, organic produce is regulated to exclude genetic modifications, however in the U.S., certified organic foods can still contain up to 30% GMO (genetically modified organisms).

There have also been reports of some of these big organic American companies working together to change the organic standards, in effect to dilute them down.

You may be shocked to learn that there is no limit to how much mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic and aluminium is allowed in “organic” products in the UK or USA.

“USDA organic standards place NO LIMITS on levels of heavy metals contamination of certified organic foods. Even further, there is no limit on the contamination of PCBs, BPA and other synthetic chemicals that are allowed in certified organic foods, superfoods and supplements.”

Other countries such as China have had their organic industries exposed, their organic food is not safe.

Remember with all that said it’s always best to buy local or even better GROW YOUR OWN.