"Apples sold in the United States are more contaminated with pesticide residue than virtually any other produce, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) said today.

Relying on calculations based on U.S. Department of Agriculture data, the public health advocacy group today released its "Dirty Dozen" ranking of fruits and vegetables based on pesticide residues.

This is the seventh annual report on pesticide residue from EWG and the first time that apples have topped the list. The group said that according to USDA data, pesticides were found on 98 percent of more than 700 apples tested. Further, 92 percent of apples contained two or more pesticide residues, according to the group. Last year, apples ranked third on the "Dirty Dozen" list."

Jeremy P. Jacobs reports for Greenwire June 13, 2011. [2]