Eating the right foods is a significant part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and that doesn’t only include the types of foods you eat, but also their quality. To help consumers make the healthiest choices, every year the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a U.S. nonprofit and advocacy organization, releases its Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce. It splits the findings into two categories: the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen.
What’s considered ‘dirty’ and ‘clean’?
EWG looked at the number, presence and amount of pesticides on produce to compile this year’s list. However, in 2025, the group went one step further, also evaluating the pesticide’s toxicity to humans.
The EWG analyzed data from pesticide residue tests on more than 53,000 samples of 47 fruits and vegetables conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Researchers washed all produce samples under running water for 15 to 20 seconds and removed inedible peels, such as those on oranges and bananas, before testing them.
The report found that even after those steps, 256 pesticides still appeared on all the tested fruits and vegetables.
The ‘Dirty Dozen’
The Dirty Dozen represents the 12 fruits and veggies found to have the most pesticide residue. This year, spinach topped the list. Strawberries followed, along with kale, mustard and collard greens, grapes, peaches, cherries, nectarines, pears, apples and blueberries. For the first time, blackberries and potatoes also made the list.
The EWG said it created its Dirty Dozen list to encourage shoppers to buy organic, not discourage them from eating those foods altogether.
The ‘Clean Fifteen’
The opposite of its counterpart, the Clean Fifteen, details the produce found to have the least pesticide residue.
This year’s Clean Fifteen list includes:
- Pineapple
- Sweet corn
- Avocados
- Papaya
- Onions
- Frozen sweet peas
- Asparagus
- Cabbage
- Watermelon
- Cauliflower
- Bananas
- Mangoes
- Carrots
- Mushrooms
- Kiwi
Should you be concerned about pesticides?
Farmers use pesticides to kill or control pests, including insects, weeds, fungi and rodents. They apply these chemicals either during the growing process or after harvesting the produce.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the health effects of pesticides depend on the type. Some affect the nervous system, while others may irritate the skin or eyes. Researchers have found that some pesticides act as carcinogens, while others disrupt the body’s hormone or endocrine systems.
Research suggests pesticides may also affect fertility, reduce ovarian function and diminish sperm quality. Studies have also linked pesticide exposure to increased risks of breast cancer, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
However, the EPA states that most people are generally exposed to only very small amounts of pesticides — levels too low to pose a health risk. Studies show that farmworkers who use or come into contact with pesticides face the highest risk.
