EWG Dirty Dozen + Clean 15

What is it?

The conventionally grown produce that you typically find in a traditional grocery store is contaminated with pesticide residue. I always recommend buying organic if available, but that’s not always the case. The dirty dozen + clean 15 list was created by The Environmental Working Group (EWG). They are a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment. They do all kinds of research to help inform the public on the safety of our tap water, cosmetic products, genetically modified organisms (GMO/GE), pesticides in our food, and so much more.

Pesticide residue is found on produce even if they have been carefully washed or peeled. Exposure to toxic pesticides in your diet can negatively impact your health. Although vegetables and fruits are imperative to a healthy diet, you need to be cautious of the quality of produce you’re purchasing.

This list is meant to be used as a guide to help you navigate through the produce section. If you’re shopping for a specific produce item and it is not available in organic, I suggest sticking to the list to see if it is safe to buy with a non-organic option.

Dirty Dozen

The dirty dozen is a list of produce that have been tested and shown to have the highest amounts of numerous pesticide residues left behind. If you cannot find the produce listed below in organic, try to find another means of getting them.

Strawberries
Spinach
Kale
Nectarines
Apples
Grapes
Peaches
Cherries
Pears
Tomatoes
Celery
Potatoes
Hot Peppers

Clean 15

The clean 15 is a list of produce that are least likely to contain pesticides residue. If shopping and these options aren’t available in organic, it is safe to go with a conventional option.