Pesticide Lobby Blames Organics for Americans Not Eating More Veggies

The Environmental Working Group's shopper's guide to pesticides is a popular resource—it exposes the worst of the worst when it comes to pesticide contamination on food, and helps you prioritize what to buy organic when filling your fridge exclusively with pesticide-free food isn't an option.

This year, however, the list is being attacked by the Alliance for Food and Farming, which EWG describes as an industry front group for more than 50 industrial farms, pesticide and fertilizer interests.

The alliance is launching a three-year campaign to dissuade consumers from buying produce—organic or not—with less pesticides, and to undo the education on healthy foods that EWG works to make available to the American public.

EWG reports that the AFF said during a phone call this week that Americans are consuming fewer fruits and vegetables because of EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides.

To that, EWG president Ken Cook says, "It's hard to avoid the conclusion that the chemical farming coalition members are less concerned about EWG's "dirty dozen" list, or the health and girth of the American people, than they are about losing so much market share to organic fruits and vegetables."

All the more reason to pay attention to what's on your plate, because it's clear at least that the companies producing are not looking out for the public's best interests.