Kale has soared to healthful new heights over the last few years. Because it's low in calories, high in fiber and contains antioxidants, it has become the new darling of the world of greens.
Now, alas, comes some bad news about kale. It has wound up on Environmental Working Group's 2019 Dirty Dozen list, an annual ranking of the fruits and vegetables that contain the most pesticides. Kale came in at No. 3, behind No. 2 spinach and No. 1 strawberries.
"We were surprised kale had so many pesticides on it, but the test results were unequivocal," EWG toxicologist Alexis Temkin said in a news release. "Fruits and vegetables are an important part of everyone's diet, and when it comes to some conventionally grown produce items such as kale, choosing organic may be a better option."
EWG's yearly Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce, which it has been producing since 2004, is based on test data from the United States Department of Agriculture. (You can get it free at www.ewg.org.)
"More than 92 percent of kale samples had two or more pesticide residues detected, and a single sample could contain up to 18 different residues," the 2019 guide says, noting that the USDA hadn't tested kale in 10 years. Rinsing doesn't help either, it says. Testing is done on fruits and vegetables that have been thoroughly cleaned.
Also concerning is that nearly 60 percent of kale was found to contain the pesticide Dacthal (DCPA), which is classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a possible human carcinogen. Dacthal has been prohibited in Europe since 2009.
DIRTY DOZEN
Strawberries
Spinach
Kale
Nectarines
Apples
Grapes
Peaches
Cherries
Pears
Tomatoes
Celery
Potatoes
EWG also came up with a Clean 15, a list of fruits and vegetables that contain few or no pesticides.
CLEAN 15
Avocados
Sweet corn
Pineapples
Sweet peas (frozen)
Onions
Papayas
Eggplant
Asparagus
Kiwis
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Cantaloupes
Broccoli
Mushrooms
Honeydew
The environmental watchdog organization recommends buying organic produce when possible because "people who eat organic produce consume fewer pesticides." If organic isn't an option, consumers should still eat plenty of fresh produce, even if it's conventionally grown, because the "benefits outweigh the risks of pesticide exposure."
At stores, you'll find curly kale with broad and firm leaves and tough stems. There's also Tuscan kale, sometimes labeled dinosaur, lacinato or black kale, which is known for long, dark leaves and the not-so-tough stems.
Some stores sell organic kale at a fairly reasonable price. My local Kroger sells curly kale for 99 cents a bunch.
Today's recipe for salmon served on a bed of greens is a favorite. You can use any green, including kale.
