Strawberries, spinach, and grapes: experts have identified the superfoods that contain the highest levels of pesticides.

The trendy term “superfoods” refers to food products that are exceptionally high in beneficial nutrients.

Who would have thought that healthy foods, particularly those of plant origin, could pose a danger to our health? Specifically, they can contain critical levels of pesticides. For instance, organophosphates, which can harm the nervous system, are found in our beloved blueberries and green beans.

Experts from the Environmental Working Group (EWG), based in Washington, have published a “dirty dozen” list of superfoods that are saturated with the highest amounts of chemicals.

Leading the list of offenders are strawberries, spinach, and kale, as reported by the Daily Mail. Alongside these foods, which are typically considered the healthiest, the “bench of the accused” includes blueberries, grapes, apples, nectarines, pears, and cherries. Bell peppers (both sweet and hot) and green beans, which are part of a healthy diet, also made it onto the shameful list.

During the study, EWG analyzed data from 46,569 samples of 46 major fresh produce items and found that 75 percent of them contained pesticides. Despite bans on these chemicals by many governments, farmers continue to use them to preserve their crops. However, consuming food with pesticides can lead to nerve damage, headaches, stomach disorders, breathing difficulties, cataracts, hearing loss, coma, and even cancer.

Researchers found over 250 different types of pesticides in fruits and vegetables. Many of these are banned in the U.S. and Europe due to their devastating effects on human health.

For example, the neurotoxic organophosphate insecticide acephate, which was banned for use on green beans in 2011, was detected in six percent of samples of these legumes.

Both blueberries and green beans contain concerning levels of organophosphate insecticides. Meanwhile, this insecticide is listed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a possible carcinogen. These harmful compounds are extremely dangerous to the nervous system and have toxic effects on the developing brain of a child.

Nearly 10 percent of blueberry samples contained the pesticide phosmet, while 9 percent showed traces of malathion. Both are organophosphate compounds, and malathion has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as probably carcinogenic.

More than 90 percent of samples of strawberries, apples, cherries, spinach, nectarines, and grapes contained at least two pesticides.

EWG has compiled not only the “dirty dozen” but also a list of fruits and vegetables with very low or no pesticide content.

As noted by EWG toxicologist Alexis Temkin, numerous scientific studies link pesticides to serious health issues. Despite this, the toxic cocktail of chemicals continues to spoil the fruits and vegetables that people consume.

“Dirty Dozen”: Superfoods with the Highest Pesticide Levels

1. Strawberries
2. Spinach
3. Kale
4. Peaches
5. Pears
6. Nectarines
7. Apples
8. Grapes
9. Bell and hot peppers
10. Cherries
11. Blueberries
12. Green beans

Superfoods with the Lowest (or No) Pesticide Levels

1. Avocado
2. Sweet corn
3. Pineapple
4. Onion
5. Peas
6. Asparagus
7. Melon
8. Kiwi
9. Cabbage
10. Mushrooms
11. Mango
12. Watermelon
13. Carrot