For me, the closer the produce is to the Clean 15, the more I feel good about buying conventional. I also look at the price, and if the organic version doesn't cost a lot more then I'll buy it organic. Bananas are a good example—while they didn't make the Clean 15, they are close.
Although bananas are not on the dirty dozen list, it is still a good idea to purchase organic bananas. Banana crops are intensively sprayed with pesticides and fungicides. In fact, it is estimated that cultivators use 35 pounds of pesticides per acre!
Clean 15 option
Avocados topped 2023's list of least contaminated produce again this year, followed by sweet corn in second place. Pineapple, onions and papaya, frozen sweet peas, asparagus, honeydew melon, kiwi, cabbage, mushrooms, mangoes, sweet potatoes, watermelon, and carrots made up the rest of the list.
The list varies from year to year but usually thin-skinned produce like peaches, apples and celery make an appearance. Bananas have never been included (that we know of) thanks in part to their thick, peelable skins which, in theory, minimize pesticide exposure. But is this really true?
1. Strawberries. Nearly all non-organic strawberries were contaminated with pesticides (99 percent), and they were the produce most likely to stay contaminated, even after they were washed in the field and at home.
THE 2023 CLEAN FIFTEEN
Top takeaways for consumers: Almost 65 percent of Clean Fifteen fruit and vegetable samples had no detectable pesticide residues. Avocados and sweet corn were the cleanest produce – less than 2 percent of samples showed any detectable pesticides.
Bananas are a great first food for babies because they are loaded with essential nutrients for a growing baby. They are a good source of fiber, vitamin C, manganese, and potassium, and they are high in vitamin B6.
Germs can be passed to the flesh when cutting or peeling. Soap or any other cleaning products are not needed. Make sure that you rinse your produce thoroughly under cool water. Do not rinse fruit or vegetables until you are ready to eat.
After harvest, almost 60% of banana biomass is left as waste. Worldwide, about 114 million metric tons of banana waste-loss is produced, leading to environmental problems such as the excessive emission of greenhouse gases.
Oranges Oranges are a common favorite fruit, but they're also great household helpers in their own right. Their biggest household help involves keeping creepy crawlies away: Ants.
To learn more about the best time to buy certain fruits and vegetables, check out the CUESA's Seasonality Chart. All the produce on “The Clean 15” displayed little to no traces of pesticides, and is safe to consume in non-organic form.
Bottom line: When it comes to produce with inedible peels like bananas, melons, oranges and grapefruits, always wash them, peel and all, with these simple steps: Wash all fresh fruits and vegetables with cool tap water immediately before eating. There's no need to use soap or a produce wash.
You should aim for four servings of fruit per day. So go ahead, have the whole banana. If you eat a dozen bananas every day you may risk negative side effects from excessive vitamin and mineral levels. Overconsumption of potassium can lead to hyperkalemia.
Banana crops are particularly susceptible to infestations as most are grown in the tropics, favouring conditions for pests. Pesticides are used to control different banana pests, including Black Sigatoka, which in banana plantations can significantly decrease yields by 35% to 50%.
Avoid bananas that are bruised or split.
While some speckled brown spots are okay, avoid bananas with deep, sunken dark spots on the peel. It's typically an indicator that the flesh is bruised.
Is Throwing a Banana Peel Out the Window Littering? Throwing a banana peel out the window is definitely littering. It is also dangerous if left in the environment. You may think a banana peel is organic waste and will biodegrade after a while.
Digestion problem: Bananas are rich in potassium, fiber and magnesium, but at the same time the fruit is acidic and experts suggest that consuming acidic foods on an empty stomach can lead to digestive problems. That's why do not consume bananas on an empty stomach at all.
Although the sugars are natural, when paired with the moderately acidic nature of bananas will give a quick sugar boost, resulting in a crash around mid-morning. This will make you feel more tired and more hungry, and the banana will have done more harm than good.
Peeling and trimming: Peeling and/or trimming the outer layer of skin or leaves on fruits and vegetables will help reduce pesticide residues. Rinsing: Rinsing produce in warm water for at least one minute or longer can help reduce pesticide presence on produce.