Because my father, a farmer, died of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, which is linked to pesticide exposure, and because I had a lot of pesticide exposure as a child, I try to buy as much organic produce as possible.
However, when organic product isn’t available, it’s good to know about the research by the Environmental Working Group, or EWG, on which fruits and vegetables have the most and least pesticide residue.
Almost 60 percent of samples of conventionally grown fruit and vegetables on the “Clean Fifteen” list in the EWG’s 2025 “Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce” had no detectable pesticide residues.
By comparison, more than nine in 10 samples of conventional, or non-organic, produce on the guide’s “Dirty Dozen” list contained residues of potentially harmful pesticides.
Exposure to some pesticides is linked to health problems, including harm to the nervous system and cancer.
“EWG’s Shopper’s Guide is a tool to inform consumers and help them with their produce shopping choices, with the goal of everyone eating more fruits and vegetables,” Alexis Temkin, Ph.D., EWG vice president for science, said in a statement “For people looking to reduce pesticide exposure, buying from the Clean Fifteen [list] is a great place to start.”
The shopper’s guide, which EWG releases every year, looks at U.S. Department of Agriculture data to review pesticide residues on many fruits and vegetables.
New to the clean 15
On average, pesticides detected on produce on the clean 15 list had significantly lower overall toxicity than those items on the dirty dozen list.
Bananas and cauliflower joined this year’s clean 15. Other clean 15 popular items include avocados, papaya, pineapple, and onions.
The clean 15
- Pineapples
- Sweet corn – fresh and frozen
- Avocados
- Papaya
- Onion
- Sweet peas – frozen
- Asparagus
- Cabbage
- Watermelon
- Cauliflower
- Bananas
- Mangoes
- Carrots
- Mushrooms
- Kiwi
New to the dirty dozen
Blackberries and potatoes made this year’s dirty dozen. That’s based on the USDA’s first-time tests of blackberries, which found 93 percent of samples had pesticide residues, for an average of four different pesticides per sample.
The pesticide cypermethrin, classified as a possible human carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, was detected on just over half of conventional blackberry samples.
For potatoes, new USDA data revealed that 90 percent of samples contained chlorpropham, a sprout inhibitor used post-harvest. The European Union banned use of the chemical in 2019 due to health concerns for farmers and consumers.
More than 50 different pesticides were found on samples from each of the dirty dozen fruits and vegetables, except for cherries. Every item except potatoes had on average four or more pesticides detected on individual samples.
The dirty dozen
- Spinach
- Strawberries
- Kale, collard, and mustard greens
- Grapes
- Peaches
- Cherries
- Nectarines
- Pears
- Apples
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Potatoes
Eat more fruits and vegetables
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents who are concerned about their children’s pesticide exposure consult EWG’s Shopper’s Guide.
“Everyone should eat more fruits and vegetables – organic or conventional,” said Alexa Friedman, Ph.D., senior scientist for the EWG. “But for those who want to reduce their exposure to pesticides, the Shopper’s Guide can be a powerful tool to avoid consuming potentially harmful chemicals.”
The 2025 guide analyzes pesticide residue data from USDA tests of more than 53,000 samples of 47 fruits and vegetables. Before testing, produce samples are washed, scrubbed, or peeled, as would be the typical preparation for each produce item. After these steps, pesticide residues were still detected. However, washing fruits and vegetables remains an important step to reduce pesticide levels, dirt, and possible bacterial contamination.
“EWG recommends shoppers seeking fresh produce with low pesticide residues buy organic versions of items on EWG’s Dirty Dozen and either organic or conventional versions of produce on the Clean Fifteen,” said Friedman. “There are also many organic and Clean Fifteen options in the frozen food aisle.”
New methodology
EWG updated the methodology used for this Shopper’s Guide to reflect pesticides’ toxicity – their ability to cause harm – in addition to their detected frequency and concentrations. Friedman said the updated methodology considers more precisely than in years past which pesticides might be on produce, including which could be the most harmful.
Final thoughts
Print out the lists for the dirty dozen and clean 15 to take with you to the store. Or, bookmark this article on your smartphone.
Reducing your pesticide exposure is one way to improve your health.
Given the staff cuts, & the change in attitude of the current administration, how reliable is USDA information?
Good Question. The EWG used the latest data, which is from 2016.