A new report by the Environmental Working Group indicates that strawberries, apples and grapes lead the list of the 'Dirty Dozen' group of fruits and vegetables that contain the most pesticides.

The comprehensive report outlines not only the list of the most toxic fruits and vegetables but also the growing process and how pesticides are applied. Among the other vegetables in the 'Dirty Dozen' include celery, peaches, sweet bell peppers, imported nectarines, spinach, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, potatoes and snap peas.

The report also sheds light on the differences between American policies and European policies for pesticide use in fruits and vegetables.

"The European Commission has banned diphenylamine, DPA for short, on fruit raised in the 28 European Union member states and has imposed tight restrictions on imported fruit," the report says. "DPA, a growth regulator and antioxidant, is applied after harvest to most apples conventionally grown in the U.S. and to some U.S.-grown pears, to prevent the fruit skin from discoloring during months of cold storage."

Furthermore, the report exposed the risks involved for children who are exposed to the pesticides. The American Academy of Pediatrics said in a 2012 report that children are more susceptible to the potential toxins in pesticides and also indicated that there are links between childhood pesticide exposure and pediatric cancers, the report said.

Despite all of the negativity, there is some good news out of all of this. According to the report, pesticide levels are reduced once food is cooked. This is especially significant when it comes to feeding babies.

"The USDA's most recent pesticide monitoring data included hundreds of samples of applesauce, carrots, peaches and peas packaged as baby food (USDA 2014)," the report said. "Because cooking reduces levels of pesticides and baby food is cooked before packaging, it tends to contain lower pesticide residues than comparable raw produce."

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