The ‘Dirty Dozen’ and ‘Clean 15’: best and worst produce for pesticides

The Environmental Working Group has produced lists of the ‘dirty dozen’ and ‘clean 15’ produce items for most and least contamination by pesticides.

Find out what to buy organic – and why – with EWG’s 2011 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce. They rank 53 popular fruits and vegetables based on their total pesticide loads.

View their full list and other information on their website at foodnews.org, including a download of a handy app for your smart phone so you can check the list again at the grocery store.

The EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce

The Dirty Dozen – buy these organic	The Clean 15 – these are the lowest in pesticide for conventionally grown
1 Apples	1 Onions
2 Celery	2 Sweet Corn
3 Strawberries	3 Pineapples
4 Peaches	4 Avocado
5 Spinach	5 Asparagus
6 Nectarines – imported	6 Sweet peas
7 Grapes – imported	7 Mangoes
8 Sweet bell peppers	8 Eggplant
9 Potatoes	9 Cantaloupe – domestic
10 Blueberries – domestic	10 Kiwi
11 Lettuce	11 Cabbage
12 Kale/collard greens	12 Watermelon
	13 Sweet potatoes
	14 Grapefruit
	15 Mushrooms