EWG Must Address Lack Of Science, Role In Creating Safety Fears

There are now two peer reviewed studies from respected academic institutions (Johns Hopkins and Illinois Institute of Technology) with similar conclusions about how negative and confusing safety messaging may be impacting consumers and potentially discouraging consumption of fruits and veggies.  Among the biggest culprits of advancing inaccurate, negative safety messaging – the Environmental Working Group (EWG). 

For over two decades, through the annual release of its “dirty dozen” list, EWG has promoted the inaccurate concept that safe, healthy and popular produce items are “dirty” and “contaminated with pesticides.”  But, in addition to this “list” being shown to possibly discourage produce consumption, it has been repeatedly discredited by the scientific community.  In fact, a peer reviewed analysis published in the Journal of Toxicology, found that EWG follows no established scientific procedures in developing their “list,” and EWG’s suggested substitution of organic forms of produce for conventional forms results in no decrease in risk for consumers because residues levels, if present at all, are so very low.

Here are some additional problems with the “dirty dozen” list from a scientific standpoint: 

To read the rest of the story, please go to: The Alliance for Food and Farming