63/100

Food

Conventional Kale

Low burden — Conventional Kale is a relatively low-burden choice.

Non-organic kale, a frequent pesticide-residue crop.

The breakdown

Each driver rated 0 (none) to 10 (worst)

Chemical hazard
4
Everyday exposure
4
Persistence
2

Evidence strength: moderate · Detox Score = 100 − hazard×4.6 − exposure×3.4 − persistence×2.6, clamped 1–100.

What this means for you

A Detox Score of 63 places conventional kale in the Low band. None of the three drivers is severe, which keeps the burden manageable. Leafy greens like kale regularly appear high on pesticide-residue rankings. The vegetable itself is nutritious — the exposure is the residue, which washing and organic sourcing reduce.

Cleaner swap → Organic kale, or wash and soak thoroughly before eating.
See where your whole exposure load is highest — free Exposure Score →

Frequently asked questions

Is conventional kale a toxic exposure?

Conventional Kale has a Detox Score of 63 out of 100 (Low burden), which means it is a relatively low-burden choice. Leafy greens like kale regularly appear high on pesticide-residue rankings. The vegetable itself is nutritious — the exposure is the residue, which washing and organic sourcing reduce.

What is a safer alternative to conventional kale?

A lower-exposure swap for conventional kale is: Organic kale, or wash and soak thoroughly before eating. Leafy greens like kale regularly appear high on pesticide-residue rankings. The vegetable itself is nutritious — the exposure is the residue, which washing and organic sourcing reduce.

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