Strawberries also have consistently high levels of fungicides, including two, captan and iprodione, that are classified by the EPA as probable human carcinogens, and another, vinclozolin, that blocks the normal functioning of the male hormone, androgen. Strawberries are also routinely contaminated with endosulfan, a relative of DDT that interferes with normal hormone function by imitating the hormone estrogen. Nutritious substitutes with far lower pesticide residues are blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, kiwis, and a host of other fruits rich in vitamin C. Green bell peppers are a good source of vitamn C, and red bell peppers add vitamin A and a moderate dose of carotenoids to a meal. Unfortunately, bell peppers are more heavily contaminated with neurotoxic insecticides than all other crops analyzed. Good alternatives include broccoli, romaine lettuce, or carrots among many others.
Spinach is rich in vitamins, iron, folate and carotenoids.
It is also high in DDT, permethrin, chlorthalonil and other cancer causing pesticides. Other greens such as kale, swiss chard, mustard greens, collard greens are good nutritional substitutes, but have a roughly equivalent pesticide contamination profile. For raw spinach, romaine lettuce is far less contaminated alternative that is relatively high in carotenoids. Cherries are a marginal source of vitamin C, but have little other nutritional value. Cherries from the United States, in contrast to their imported counterparts, are heavily contaminated with pesticides.