Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen

The Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen are two lists that rank fruits and vegetables based on their pesticide residues. They are compiled by the “Environmental Working Group (EWG)”, a non-profit organization that advocates for health and environmental issues.

The Dirty Dozen are the 12 crops that tend to have the highest amount of pesticide residues, even after washing and peeling. The EWG recommends buying organic versions of these crops if possible, to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals. The 2023 Dirty Dozen list is:

– Strawberries

– Spinach

– Kale, collard and mustard greens

– Nectarines

– Apples

– Grapes

– Cherries

– Peaches

– Pears

– Bell and hot peppers

– Celery

– Tomatoes

The Clean Fifteen are the 15 crops that tend to have the lowest amount of pesticide residues, even when grown conventionally. The EWG says that these crops are safe to buy non-organic, as they have little or no detectable pesticides. The 2023 Clean Fifteen list is:

– Avocados

– Sweet corn*

– Pineapple

– Onions

– Papaya*

– Sweet peas (frozen)

– Asparagus

– Honeydew melon

– Kiwi

– Cabbage

– Mushrooms

– Mangoes

– Sweet Potatoes

– Watermelon

– Carrots

*Note: 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.