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February 18, 1999
Web posted at: 3:08 p.m. EST (2008 GMT)

The Toxicity Index values found in some tested foods ranged from 0.01 to 5,376, but most of the values fell between 10 and 300.

Consumers Union says their TI scale has no definitive line between "acceptable" and "excessive" degrees of pesticide residue.

T1 values between 10 and 100 are considered "low" to "moderate." Values over 100 are considered "high."

CU tested foods from 1994 through 1997.

In cases where a food from one source country was tested for more than one year, but the TI level didn't change significantly, the highest TI score is listed along with the years the food samples were tested.

Milk was among the foods studied.

Foods with lowest TI scores

• Canned/Frozen Sweet Corn (U.S.; 1994, 1995) 0.02
• Milk (U.S.; 1996, 1997) 1
• Broccoli (U.S.; 1994) 2
• Orange Juice (U.S.; 1997) 2
• Orange Juice (Brazil; 1997) 23
• Bananas (Imports from 9 countries; 1994) 3
• Bananas (Imports from 7 countries; 1995) 4
• Canned Peaches (U.S.; 1997) 5
• Canned/Frozen Peas (U.S.; 1994) 6
• Grapes (Mexico; 1994) 10
• Apple Juice (U.S.; 1996) 11
• Apple Juice (Mexico; 1997) 12
• Apple Juice (Germany; 1997) 13
• Apple Juice (Argentina; 1996) 18
• Apple Juice (U.S.; 1997) 20
• Frozen Winter Squash (Mexico; 1997) 21
• Fresh Winter Squash (Honduras; 1997) 23
• Sweet Potatoes (U.S.; 1997) 25
• Tomatoes (Canada; 1997) 26
• Wheat (no source; 1995-1997) 32

Foods with highest TI scores

(Listed in descending order.)

• Fresh Peaches (U.S.; 1994, 1995, 1996) 5,376
• Frozen Winter Squash (U.S.; 1997) 3,012
• Fresh Winter Squash (U.S.; 1997) 1,706
• Grapes (U.S.; 1994) 1,552
• Fresh Spinach (Mexico; 1996) 623
• Apples (U.S.; 1994) 567
• Fresh Spinach (U.S.; 1996) 495
• Fresh Peaches (Chile; 1996) 471
• Pears (U.S.; 1997) 435
• Pears (Chile; 1997) 415
• Fresh Peaches (Chile; 1994, 1995) 381
• Fresh Spinach (U.S.; 1997) 349
• Grapes (Chile; 1996) 339
• Grapes (U.S.; 1995) 329
• Apples (New Zealand; 1994, 1995, 1996) 298
• Fresh Green Beans (U.S.; 1994) 294
• Fresh Spinach (Mexico; 1997) 256
• Celery (U.S.; 1994) 255
• Grapes (Chile, 1995) 241
• Grapes (U.S., 1996) 228
• Fresh Green Beans (U.S.; 1995) 222
• Frozen/Canned Green Beans (U.S.; 1996) 222
• Canned Spinach (U.S.; 1997) 204
• Pears (South Africa; 1997) 201
• Potatoes (U.S.; 1994) 191
• Grapes (Chile; 1994) 181
• Grapes (South Africa; 1996) 169
• Tomatoes (Mexico; 1997) 159
• Pears (Argentina; 1997) 157
• Oranges (U.S.; 1994) 138
• Carrots (Mexico; 1995) 136
• Tomatoes (Mexico; 1996) 123
• Lettuce (U.S.; 1994) 122
• Fresh Spinach (Mexico; 1995) 103

Source: Consumers Union