The ‘Dirty Dozen’ and the ‘Clean 15’'s featured image

Each year the Environmental Working Group releases two lists informing consumers of the foods with the highest and lowest pesticide residue.  These lists allow consumers to determine which foods they should purchase from the ‘Organic’ section and which are okay to buy conventionally.

The ‘Dirty Dozen’ list refers to those fruits and vegetables that have a high amount of pesticide residue and the ‘Clean 15’ list provides the fresh produce that has the lowest cause for concern when it comes to pesticide residue.  Each list has been displayed below, so take note for future trips to the grocery store.

Dirty Dozen

12 produce items that have high pesticide residue and should be purchased organically:

  1. Apples
  2. Celery
  3. Sweet bell peppers
  4. Peaches
  5. Strawberries
  6. Nectarines (imported)
  7. Grapes
  8. Spinach
  9. Lettuce
  10. Cucumbers
  11. Blueberries (domestic)
  12. Potatoes

Clean 15

15 produce items that have low pesticide residue and can be purchased non-organically:

  1. Onions
  2. Sweet corn
  3. Pineapples
  4. Avocado
  5. Cabbage
  6. Sweet peas
  7. Asparagus
  8. Mangoes
  9. Eggplant
  10. Kiwi
  11. Cantaloupe (domestic)
  12. Sweet potatoes
  13. Grapefruit
  14. Watermelon
  15. Mushrooms