When you first start to transition to eating organic, there can be a lot of questions. What foods to start with is a very common question. Thankfully, the Environmental Working Group (EWG1) publishes a list of produce that contain the highest and lowest amounts of pesticides. They update the list every year, so you will always know which organic fruits and vegetables to buy. This list is known as The Dirty Dozen and The Clean Fifteen. The EWG’s 2018 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides tests were conducted on fruits and vegetables that were ready to eat – washed and when applicable, peeled.
The Dirty Dozen in order from worst to least – the lower numbers indicate more pesticides.
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Nectarines
- Apples
- Grapes
- Peaches
- Cherries
- Pears
- Tomatoes
- Celery
- Potatoes
- Sweet Bell Peppers
The Clean Fifteen – these fifteen fruits and vegetables are least likely to be contaminated with pesticide residue.
- Avocados
- Sweet Corn*
- Pineapples
- Cabbage
- Onions
- Frozen Sweet Peas
- Papayas*
- Asparagus
- Mango
- Eggplant
- Honeydew Melon
- Kiwi
- Cantaloupe
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
* A small amount of sweet corn, papaya and summer squash sold in the United States is produced from genetically modified seeds. Buy organic varieties of these crops if you want to avoid genetically modified produce.
For the complete list, please go to https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/list.php#.WnNwi66nGUk
1The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is an environmental organization that specializes in research and advocacy in the areas of toxic chemicals, agricultural subsidies, public lands and corporate accountability.
For more information about organic living, visit nowfindorganic.com.