Conventional Apples

Non-organic apples eaten with skin.

57Moderate burden · out of 100
Cleaner swapOrganic apples, or wash and peel

How this score is built

  1. 100Start
  2. 81.6Chemical hazard 4 × 4.6−18.4
  3. 64.6Everyday exposure 5 × 3.4−17
  4. 57Persistence 3 × 2.6−7.8, then rounded to 57
  5. ModerateThe band57 sits in 40–59.

What each input rests on

The three ratings behind the score, and the studies each rests on
InputRatingEvidence
Chemical hazard4/10unsourced input
Everyday exposure5/10
  • Residues of five pesticides were higher in apple peel and core than in the flesh; washing removed 6.7-67% depending on the compound, and peeling and coring significantly reduced residues in the edible part for all but beta-cypermethrin.

    Effect of home processing on the distribution and reduction of pesticide residues in apples · Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2012

    DOI 10.1080/19440049.2012.690347 · PMID 22738391 · Abstract · read 2026-10-09

Persistence3/10unsourced input

Ratings are editorial. A study listed here supports the rating; it did not compute it. How the index is built

What this means for you

Apples rank high on pesticide-residue testing because residues concentrate in the skin. Washing helps, peeling helps more, and organic avoids most of it.

Evidence strength: moderate

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Lower-exposure choices