Dirty Dozen vs. Clean Fifteen

Written By Liz .

We talk about eating enough fruits and veggies here often, but do you truly know what you’re buying when you do your grocery shopping? The truth is that most of the produce we have easy access to is riddled with pesticides. The best way to try to avoid pesticides is to eat organic food. Some pesticides are systemic, meaning the chemicals are placed in water to be absorbed by the produce, like with apples. As a result, no amount of washing will remove the pesticide. Let’s consider the ‘dirty dozen’ list. 

The "Dirty Dozen" is the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) list of 12 fruits and vegetables that contain the most pesticide residues, based on data from the USDA. The 2025 Dirty Dozen list was released on June 11, 2025. 

Source: https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php

Here are the 12 items on the 2025 Dirty Dozen list, in order from most pesticide residue to least: 

  • Spinach

  • Strawberries

  • Kale, Collard, and Mustard Greens

  • Grapes

  • Peaches

  • Cherries

  • Nectarines

  • Pears

  • Apples

  • Blackberries

  • Blueberries

  • Potatoes

The EWG recommends buying organic versions of these items to minimize pesticide exposure. Buying all organic may not be realistic for many of us, so here’s some food for thought: look at this list and determine the top 1-3 items you consume the most often and try to prioritize buying organic for those specific items. The good news is you don't need to buy all organic all the time.

You can also take a look at the Clean Fifteen list, allowing you to redirect your organic budget where it truly matters. The EWG 2025 Clean Fifteen list highlights produce with the lowest levels of pesticide residues. These items are considered safe to buy conventionally, as nearly 60% of samples of these foods showed no detectable pesticide residues. Source: https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/clean-fifteen.php 

Here is the full list:

  • Pineapple

  • Sweet Corn (fresh and frozen)

  • Avocados

  • Papaya

  • Onions

  • Sweet Peas (frozen)

  • Asparagus

  • Cabbage

  • Watermelon

  • Cauliflower

  • Bananas

  • Mangoes

  • Carrots

  • Mushrooms

  • Kiwi

The Clean Fifteen is a helpful guide for shoppers looking to reduce their pesticide exposure without always buying organic. Produce on this list has naturally protective qualities, such as thick rinds, peels, or an underground growing environment, that keeps pesticides away from the edible parts of the fruit or vegetable. 

So, the next time you’re making a grocery list, have the dirty dozen and clean fifteen lists nearby for reference. Remember, prioritize organic for those most often consumed items from the dirty dozen; and buy more from the clean fifteen to help stretch your grocery budget without compromising safety. 

Liz .
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