Dirty Dozen Fruits and Veggies (2019)

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Use this guide when considering where to spend more (for higher quality, organic or regeneratively grown produce.) Personally I usually buy conventionally grown cabbage, but most other items, I will buy organic. Or better yet, grow it myself!

Lower number = More pesticides

2019

1. Strawberries
2. Spinach
3. Kale
4. Nectarines
5. Apples
6. Grapes
7. Peaches
8. Cherries
9. Pears
10. Tomatoes
11. Celery
12. Potatoes
13. Sweet Bell Peppers
14. Cherry Tomatoes
15. Lettuce
16. Cucumbers
17. Blueberries
18. Hot Peppers
19. Plums
20. Green Beans
21. Tangerines
22. Raspberries
23. Grapefruit
24. Winter Squashes
25. Snap Peas
26. Carrots
27. Oranges
28. Summer Squashes*
29. Mangoes
30. Bananas
31. Sweet Potatoes
32. Watermelons
33. Honeydew Melons
34. Mushrooms
35. Broccoli
36. Cantaloupes
37. Cauliflower
38. Cabbages
39. Kiwis
40. Asparagus
41. Eggplants
42. Papayas*
43. Onions
44. Sweet Peas Frozen
45. Pineapples
46. Sweet Corn*
47. Avocados

* A small amount of sweet corn, papaya and summer squash sold in the United States is produced from genetically modified seeds. Buy organic varieties of these crops if you want to avoid genetically modified produce.

Source: EWG’s 2019 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™

2014

  1. Apples
  2. Strawberries
  3. Grapes
  4. Celery
  5. Peaches
  6. Spinach
  7. Sweet Bell Peppers
  8. Nectarines – Imported
  9. Cucumbers
  10. Cherry Tomatoes
  11. Snap Peas – Imported
  12. Potatoes
  13. Hot Peppers
  14. Blueberries – Domestic
  15. Lettuce
  16. Kale/Collard Greens
  17. Plums
  18. Cherries
  19. Nectarines – Domestic
  20. Pears
  21. Tangerines
  22. Carrots
  23. Blueberries – Imported
  24. Green Beans
  25. Winter Squash
  26. Summer Squash
  27. Raspberries
  28. Broccoli
  29. Snap Peas – Domestic
  30. Green Onions
  31. Oranges
  32. Bananas
  33. Tomatoes
  34. Watermelon
  35. Honeydew Melon
  36. Mushrooms
  37. Sweet Potatoes
  38. Cauliflower
  39. Cantaloupe
  40. Grapefruit
  41. Eggplant
  42. Kiwi
  43. Papaya
  44. Mango
  45. Asparagus
  46. Onions
  47. Sweet Peas – Frozen
  48. Cabbage
  49. Pineapples
  50. Sweet Corn
  51. Avocados

EWG analyzed pesticide residue testing data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration to come up with rankings for these popular fresh produce items. All 48 foods are listed below from worst to best.

Source: http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/list.php