Your 2018 Guide to the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen

The EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, updated every year since 2004, ranks the pesticide contamination of popular fruits and vegetables. The guide is based on results from more than 35,200 samples of produce tested by the FDA. Every day, consumers rely on the EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to help them make the best choices for their families and reduce their exposure to harmful pesticides. The Shopper’s Guide includes both the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen lists.

Organic produce is often pricier than non-organic fruits and vegetables. If you’re shopping on a budget and can’t afford all organic products, these lists (that were updated for 2018) can help you prioritize which foods to buy organic.

Dirty Dozen: This is a list of produce with the most pesticide residue. Experts recommend choosing organic for these fruits and vegetables when possible.

Strawberries

Spinach

Nectarines

Apples

Grapes

Peaches

Cherries

Pears

Tomatoes

Celery

Potatoes

Sweet Bell Peppers

+ Hot Peppers

Clean Fifteen: This is a list of produce with the least pesticide residue.

Avocados

Sweet corn

Pineapples

Cabbages

Onions

Sweet Peas (frozen)

Papayas

Asparagus

Mangoes

Eggplants

Honeydew Melons

Kiwis

Cantaloupes

Cauliflower

Broccoli

Key Findings

Seventy percent of non-organic produce samples tested positive for pesticides.

Over 98 percent of strawberries, spinach, peaches, nectarines, cherries and apples tested positive for at least one pesticide.

For more information, visit The Environmental Working Group at ewg.org.