The Dirty Dozen vs the Clean 15 and Where GMO Crops Fit In.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how people on a fixed or lower income can eat well. I’ll often read a vegan or vegatarian cookbook where the author will remark how vegetables, grains and fruits are cheaper to buy than meat. That may be true, but I’ve been buying entirely organic and my grocery bills are pretty high.

So I decided to revisit the Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15 and refresh my memory as to which conventional items are harmful to buy if not organic and which ones are safe. Then I had a question. How do genetically modified crops enter into this list? Are the Clean 15 genetically modified?

The main problem I faced trying to research the crops is there aren’t any labeling laws in the United States for GMO crops. I came across two sites that gave the most information. They are gmo-compass.org and The Center for Risk Assessment . It is from these two sites that I formed the GMOK for Today list which is the remaining items on the Clean 15 that to the best of my knowledge remain GMO free.

Unfortunately, the only guarantee for GMO free crops is to buy organic and the best solution to keep your grocery bill lower is to buy seasonally. But, if you want to mix it up a bit and live on the wild side , here is my research.

DIRTY DOZEN (according to thedailygreen) These items have the highest rate of pesticide residue.

1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches
5. Spinach
6. Nectarines (imported)
7. Grapes (imported)
8. Sweet Bell Peppers
9. Potatoes
10. Blueberries (domestic)
11. Lettuce
12. Kale/Collard Greens

The Dirty Dozen list is different depending on the source. I would would additionally avoid  carrots and pears. These are on Ann Gentry’s list in “Vegan Family Meals” and omits potatoes and blueberries.

GMO Crops

• Alfalfa, not sure if they are in the market yet, but looks like they were planted this spring
• Bananas, okay for now, but GMO trials are in Australia
• Cacoa
• pineapples, not yet…
• Plum, not commercially cultivated yet but has USA approval for GMO
• Sweet Peppers, I don’t think they are in the market yet
• Wheat, not yet, but watch out!

CLEAN 15

1. Asparagus
2. Avocado
3. Broccoli
4. Cabbage
5. Eggplant
6. Kiwi
7. Mangoes
8. Onions
9. Papaya GMO
10. Pineapples
11. Sweet Corn GMO
12. Sweet Potatoes
13. Sweet peas
14. Tomatoes GMO
15. Watermelon

GMOK FOR TODAY All items were searched on gmo-compass.org and The Center for Risk Assessment . To the best of my knowledge they are not genetically modified and they belong to the Clean 15.

1. Avocado
2. Broccoli
3. Cabbage
4. Eggplant
5. Mangoes
6. Kiwi
7. Onions
8. Pineapples
9. Sweet Peas
10. Sweet Potatoes
11. Watermelon? Seems to be a hybrid, not GMO

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