Kitchen
Fruits and VegetablesWhat You Need To KnowBeing mindful about the fruits and vegetables you eat is important so you can confidently enjoy this essential part of your diet without any potentially unhealthy exposures.
What To Avoid
PesticidesPesticides are sprayed on conventional food crops. Pesticides are a class of chemicals from petroleum that are intended to kill pests, like insects. Certain Pesticides have been shown to negatively impact brain development as well as contribute to other health problems.
Keep Pesticides out:Pesticides can often travel from where they were applied into nearby homes and can attach to the clothes of those working outside. If you live near fields where Pesticides are used, when they are being applied, make sure to close your windows.
Use a doormat and take off your shoes at the door to avoid tracking Pesticides in and clean frequently using a microfiber damp cloth or mop, as well as a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
Safer Choices
Eat fruits and vegetables every day:Eat fruits and vegetables every day and choose organic or farmer’s market “no spray” options, when possible as these are grown without Pesticides and fertilizers, which can contain harmful chemicals.
Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen Guides:Know the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists from The Environmental Working Group (EWG). See website listing.
The Dirty Dozen includes fruits and vegetable that have higher pesticide residues, so we recommend you choose organic or “no spray” options for these. The Clean Fifteen, on the other hand, are less likely to have high pesticide levels, making them safer choices.
Wash first: Always wash fruits and vegetables before eating or cooking them under running water to help remove any surface residues of pesticide or other contaminants. Pesticides cannot be completely washed off but washing may help. Special produce cleaning sprays are not recommended.
Find Safer Products
Websites and Apps:
Clearya
Clearya is a free browser extension and app that notifies you when there are unsafe ingredients in your makeup, personal care, baby care, cleaning and other products, and helps you find safe products.
Clearya is a free browser extension and app that notifies you when there are unsafe ingredients in your makeup, personal care, baby care, cleaning and other products, and helps you find safe products.
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics - Nontoxic Black Beauty Project
They offer a list and database of non-toxic beauty products made and sold by Black-owned companies that are committed to toxic-free beauty and personal care products.
They offer a list and database of non-toxic beauty products made and sold by Black-owned companies that are committed to toxic-free beauty and personal care products.
Detox Me
This app allows you to scan barcodes on products to find relevant tips. They also offer a buying guide to decode product labels and find non-toxic alternatives.
This app allows you to scan barcodes on products to find relevant tips. They also offer a buying guide to decode product labels and find non-toxic alternatives.
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG has a "Skin Deep" database that rates personal care and beauty products based on their safety and toxicity levels. EWG also offers a Healthy Living app that allows you to scan barcodes and find safer products.
EWG has a "Skin Deep" database that rates personal care and beauty products based on their safety and toxicity levels. EWG also offers a Healthy Living app that allows you to scan barcodes and find safer products.
Think Dirty
This app and website allow you to scan or search for personal care products to see their ingredient safety ratings.
This app and website allow you to scan or search for personal care products to see their ingredient safety ratings.
Resources
