Produce
Bell peppers
Bell peppers are eaten raw with the skin on and grown under heavy pest pressure, which puts them in the upper half of the residue table. A red bell pepper also carries more vitamin C than an orange.
Organic upgrade priority
Consider organic
Score 25/100 · about $3.20 a week extra for a household of two
- →Conventional samples index 66/100 against 17/100 for organic — a 49-point difference.
- →At about 2 servings a week, the difference applies to a smaller share of what you eat.
- →Sample confidence is limited, so the score is weighted down by 28%.
Key numbers
- Residue evidence
- 66/100
- Higher residue evidence
- Nutrient density
- 84/100
- Per calorie, across the whole database
- Typical price
- $1.49
- per each · organic +54%
- Servings a week
- 2
- Per person, at typical purchase volume
- Samples
- 1,318
- Conventional, 2019–2021 · 39 organic
- Data confidence
- Limited
- Set from sample size and year coverage
Organic vs conventional bell peppers
| Measure | Conventional | Organic |
|---|---|---|
| Samples analysed | 1,318 | 39 |
| Program years | 2019–2021 | 2019–2021 |
| Samples with any residue | 87% | 26% |
| Mean residues per sample | 4.0 | 0.7 |
| Samples above the EPA tolerance | 0.30% | 0.00% |
| Relative residue evidence index | 66/100 | 17/100 |
| Typical price | $1.49 / each | $2.29 / each |
Nutrition
Per 1 medium red (119 g).
31
calories
1.2 g
protein
2.5 g
fiber
4.2 g
sugar
- Vitamin C 169% DV
- Vitamin A 16% DV
- Vitamin B6 17% DV
How to wash bell peppers
Rub the whole pepper under running water before cutting, paying attention to the dip around the stem where spray collects and water runs off.
Washing reduces surface residue and soil. It does not remove systemic compounds taken up into the plant, and no soap, vinegar, or commercial produce wash has been shown to beat 30 seconds of plain running water by a margin worth paying for. Full washing guide.
Buying and storing
- ◆Green bell peppers are unripe versions of red, yellow, and orange ones. That is why they cost less and carry roughly half the vitamin C.
- ◆Greenhouse-grown peppers (usually sold shrink-wrapped in threes) tend to show fewer detections than field-grown, though the sample sets are not separated in the public data.
Common questions
›Should I buy organic bell peppers?
It is a reasonable upgrade when the budget allows, but not the first one to make. Bell peppers scores 25/100 on organic upgrade priority, with conventional samples at 66/100 against 17/100 organic. At about $3.20 extra a week, it competes with several higher-priority items.
›Are bell peppers high in pesticides?
Bell peppers shows higher residue evidence — an index of 66/100 relative to other commodities. Across 1,318 conventional samples from 2019–2021, 87% contained at least one detected residue, averaging 4.0 distinct compounds per sample, and 0.30% exceeded the applicable EPA tolerance. A detection is not the same as an unsafe level.
›How much more does organic bell peppers cost?
About 54% more at typical U.S. retail — $1.49 per each conventional against $2.29 organic. For a household of 2 at normal purchase volume that is roughly $3.20 a week.
›How should I wash bell peppers?
Rub the whole pepper under running water before cutting, paying attention to the dip around the stem where spray collects and water runs off.
›What can I buy instead of bell peppers?
If the organic version is out of budget or the fresh price has spiked, Cabbage, Carrots, Frozen mixed vegetables cover similar ground on this list. Each one is either lower on residue evidence, cheaper per serving, or both.
Related foods
Frozen mixed vegetables
$2.49 / 16 oz bag · organic $3.49
Carrots
$2.49 / 2 lb bag · organic $3.49
Cabbage
$2.49 / head · organic $3.49
Spinach
$3.29 / 5 oz container · organic $4.49