Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen 2017 from EWG (Environmental Working Group)

Go to http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php and read the information to answer the questions below:

1. Read about why certain fruits and vegetables are called the Dirty Dozen. Explain.

2. List the Dirty Dozen from 2017 (click the tab at top of page).

3. What is the alternative to eating the Dirty Dozen produce?

4. What is meant by the Clean Fifteen?

5. List the Clean Fifteen from 2017 (click the tab at top of page).

6. Why are some fruits and vegetables called the Dirty Dozen Plus?

7. Which food is being highlighted in the Dirty Dozen Plus in 2017, and what do they recommend that you should you do if you eat lots of these spicy vegetables?

8. List foods that fall into the Dirty Dozen Plus category and explain which specific chemicals used on them are cause for concern and why. You will have to scroll down further to get specifics. 9. In what type of foods will we typically find genetically engineered crops in American supermarkets? Read carefully!

10. Which 4 genetically engineered American crops are sometimes found in supermarkets?

11. How can you avoid these GE foods?

12. Discuss what you learned about pesticide use in baby food.

13. Contrast what Europe is doing about certain pesticides versus the EPA’s approach here in the United States.

14. What can you do as a consumer to reduce pesticide exposure?

15. Why do certain banned agricultural pesticides like DDE and dieldrin still present a risk to the public?

16. What did the Federal Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 mandate?

17. Which neurotoxic chemicals did the EPA restrict due to this act? What damage can these chemicals do? Who might worry about exposure to these chemicals and why?

18. What methods are used to determine pesticide contamination for the EWG Shopper’s Guide? Describe who does it and how. 19. Go to http://www.ewg.org/research/feeding-world-without-gmos. Why has genetic engineering been touted as a great solution to agricultural issues? What 3 key facts are stated refuting this idea?

20. What common-sense strategies could be implemented that could increase food supplies with minimal environmental impact? Read into the PDF documents and explain.

21. Go to http://www.ewg.org/videos/exposure-pesticides-produce-dr-alex-lu-harvard

to watch Dr. Alex Lu. Summarize what he says about organic produce. What surprised you from this information?

22. One of the public’s biggest arguments against eating healthier is that it is too expensive. Summarize helpful recommendations on getting better nutrition on a tight budget from this PDF file: http://static.ewg.org/reports/2012/goodfood/pdf/goodfoodonatightbudget.pdf? _ga=1.17102841.1730530592.1451935447

23. What will you do differently now or in the future based on what you have learned from this activity?

24. From an economic standpoint, what do you feel is worth the extra money at the supermarket?

What items will you still buy at the lowest price?

What items might you avoid buying completely?

25. As a consumer, what power do you have to impact environmental regulations on agriculture and influence FDA guidelines?