Steinman points out that pesticide contamination of fresh fruits is often alarmingly high. Phase 1 vegetables on Steinman's moderately contaminated food list include broccoli, parsley, sweet potato, and winter squash. You should buy these vegetables from an organic source if possible. Phase 2 foods on the moderate list include blueberries, cantaloupe, celery, cucumbers, lettuce, plums, spinach, turnips, and strawberries. Steinman recommends avoiding peanuts and raisins.
Rice receives high marks with low concentrations of chemicals.
Malathion is the most likely contaminant. Wheat and other grains were contaminated during the 80's with ethylene bromide, a fumigant used to retard grain spoilage in storage and transport. This chemical may have contributed to the apparent increase in wheat disease in the past decade. Ironically, fungal contamination of grains is an equal threat to the chemicals used to control it. Shortly after Consumer Reports published an article on Alar, its manufacturer, Uniroyal, withdrew it from the market.