You can cut your cancer risk by eating organic, a new study says

By Susan Scutti, CNN

Updated 1500 GMT (2300 HKT) October 22, 2018

Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

Fewer than 1% of avocados tested positive for pesticides. Best of all, only one pesticide of any kind was found on all the avocados tested. For these reasons, the Environmental Working Group ranked avocados as the No. 1 cleanest produce.

Photos: 2018's 'Clean 15'

Avocados – Fewer than 1% of avocados tested positive for pesticides. Best of all, only one pesticide of any kind was found on all the avocados tested. For these reasons, the Environmental Working Group ranked avocados as the No. 1 cleanest produce.

Hide Caption

1 of 15

Less than 2% of sweet corn, the second-cleanest produce, showed detectable levels of pesticides. Because a small portion of corn is grown from genetically modified seeds, the group suggests that those who wish to avoid genetically altered foods buy organic corn.

Photos: 2018's 'Clean 15'

Sweet corn – Less than 2% of sweet corn, the second-cleanest produce, showed detectable levels of pesticides. Because a small portion of corn is grown from genetically modified seeds, the group suggests that those who wish to avoid genetically altered foods buy organic corn.

Hide Caption

2 of 15

Nearly all the pineapples tested -- 90% -- showed no residual pesticides, while just five pesticides could be detected on any of the samples. For these reasons, pineapples fill position three on the clean list.

Photos: 2018's 'Clean 15'

Pineapples – Nearly all the pineapples tested -- 90% -- showed no residual pesticides, while just five pesticides could be detected on any of the samples. For these reasons, pineapples fill position three on the clean list.

Hide Caption

3 of 15

Overall, 86% of cabbage samples contained no detectable pesticides. Additionally, just two of more than 700 samples tested contained more than one pesticide. For these reasons, cabbage ranked fourth on the list of cleanest produce.

Photos: 2018's 'Clean 15'

Cabbage – Overall, 86% of cabbage samples contained no detectable pesticides. Additionally, just two of more than 700 samples tested contained more than one pesticide. For these reasons, cabbage ranked fourth on the list of cleanest produce.

Hide Caption

4 of 15

Photos: 2018's 'Clean 15'

Onions – Fifth-placed onions contained three or fewer pesticides overall, while fewer than one in 10 contained any pesticides.

Hide Caption

5 of 15

Frozen sweet peas ranked sixth on this year's clean produce list due to the fact that none of the tested samples contained more than two pesticides. Overall, about eight out of every 10 frozen sweet pea samples tested negative for pesticides.

Photos: 2018's 'Clean 15'

Frozen sweet peas – Frozen sweet peas ranked sixth on this year's clean produce list due to the fact that none of the tested samples contained more than two pesticides. Overall, about eight out of every 10 frozen sweet pea samples tested negative for pesticides.

Hide Caption

6 of 15

With no samples testing positive for more than three pesticides, papayas take seventh place on the list of clean fruits and veggies. The Environmental Working Group found that eight out of every 10 had no pesticide residues.

Photos: 2018's 'Clean 15'

Papayas – With no samples testing positive for more than three pesticides, papayas take seventh place on the list of clean fruits and veggies. The Environmental Working Group found that eight out of every 10 had no pesticide residues.

Hide Caption