you must eat it organic (and what’s more, it’s in season!)

It is commonly recommended to eat five fruits and vegetables every day. Just like reducing our consumption of foods that are too salty, too sweet or too fatty, this is a basic rule for maintaining good health. These foods are rich in essential nutrients, meeting our needs for vitamins, minerals and fiber. They also offer protection against certain diseases and contribute to our well-being, while offering great diversity. However, many of them contain pesticides. One particularly beloved fruit holds this dismal record, according to a study.

Here is the fruit most contaminated by pesticides

The Environmental Working Group, a non-governmental organization based in the United States, conducted an analysis on the presence of pesticides in a wide range of fruits and vegetables that we regularly consume. As part of this study, she examined nearly 46,569 samples from 46 types of fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, only 15 of the 46 fruits and vegetables analyzed contained small amounts of pesticide residues. And the fruit that contains the most? It turns out to be strawberries, followed by peaches, pears, nectarines, apples and grapes, as this ranking shows:

1. The strawberries
2. Spinach
3. Kale
4. Peaches
5. Pears
6. Nectarines
7. Apples
8. Grapes
9. Peppers
10. The cherries
11. The blueberries
12. Peas

However, several elements can influence this situation, including the type of pesticides used, agricultural methods and the country of origin, given that regulations differ from one place to another. Strawberries are particularly vulnerable to pesticides because of their delicate, permeable skin.

Strawberries from Spain should be avoided

According to a German survey carried out by Oeko-Test, a consumer defense magazine, Spanish strawberries should really be avoided in our shopping basket. In fact, experts analyzed 14 punnets of strawberries, mainly from Spain, and found traces of pesticides in 8 of them. They found “theethirimol, a fungicide toxic to bees which is currently banned in the European Union (EU) ». According to them, the presence of this pesticide can be explained by the degradation of bupirimate, another found in strawberries, which is classified as carcinogenic.

photo credit: Shutterstock

In France, the peak harvest season takes place between April and June, although you can find certain growing varieties until the beginning of autumn, as the Ministry of Agriculture specifies on its website. He advises instead to opt for labeled products, such as Périgord strawberries under Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), or even Red Label products. This then ensures that the strawberries have been picked at optimal ripeness. Otherwise, nothing beats strawberries that come straight from your garden!