Organic VS Non-Organic

     When you go to the grocery store, do you check the label of your food to see if it is organic or non-organic? 

     Organic food is classified as meat, dairy products, poultry and eggs that are given zero growth hormones or antibiotics. Organic produce is grown without using pesticides and other harsh chemicals. 

    With that being said, some produce contains higher levels of pesticides and chemicals than others. Experts have created two lists- the "Dirty Dozen" and the "Clean Fifteen" to help us out. The Dirty Dozen are the top twelve foods you should purchase organic because they contain extremely high levels of pesticides. It's counterpart, Clean Fifteen are the top fifteen foods that contain low levels of pesticides and don't necessarily need to be purchased organic.

    Dirty Dozen 

1. Strawberries
2. Spinach
3. Nectarines
4. Apples
5. Peaches
6. Pears
7. Cherries
8. Grapes
9. Celery
10. Tomatoes
11. Sweet Bell Peppers
12. Potatoes  

   Clean Fifteen 

1. Sweet Corn
2. Avocados
3. Pineapples
4. Cabbage
5. Onions 
6. Frozen Sweet Peas
7. Papayas 
8. Asparagus 
9. Mangoes
10. Eggplant
11. Honeydew Melon
12. Kiwi
13. Cantaloupe 
14. Cauliflower 
15. Grapefruit   

https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/list.php  https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/clean_fifteen_list.php  https://draxe.com/dirty-dozen/  http://www.eatingwell.com/food_news_origins/organic_natural/15_foods_you_dont_need_to_buy_organic  

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/health/the-dirty-dozen-and-clean-15-of-produce/616/ 

http://www.debate.org/opinions/is-organic-food-healthier-than-non-organic-foods 

http://www.organic.org/home/faq#faq1