The Dirty Dozen

Every year the Environmental Working Group, better known as the EWG comes out with its list of fruits and vegetables, that are known to contain high levels of pesticide residue and other chemical hazards. This list is known as the Dirty Dozen. The agency prepares the food as consumers would -- washing, peeling or scrubbing -- before testing each item. The USDA does not sample all 46 foods each year, so EWG pulls results from the most recent testing period.

2021, EWG did some testing of its own, targeting citrus fruits. A fungicide linked to cancer and hormone disruption was detected on nearly 90% of all the oranges, mandarins, grapefruit and lemons tested by an independent laboratory commissioned by EWG..

Chlorpyrifos was slated to be permanently banned in the US in 2016 when EPA safety experts determined it was harming children and farm workers. One study, for example, found lasting structural changes in the brains of pre-teen children who had been highly exposed to chlorpyrifos in utero.

Pesticides remain, even after peeling, especially on those with thin skin. 

While kid-favorite citrus fruits like clementines and tangerines ranked No. 20 and oranges came in at No. 24 on the overall list, EWG did independent testing on citrus fruits this year, and found two fungicides, imazalil and thiabendazole, were widespread.

"Evidence exists that they have the potential to disrupt the hormone system, and one is suspected of causing cancer," the EWG reports.

So who are the dirty dozen? 

Strawberries

Strawberries topped the Environmental Working Group's Dirty Dozen list in 2021 for the sixth year in a row. The most recent report states they are the fresh produce most likely to remain contaminated with pesticide residues, even after being washed. Testing found 90% of strawberries had at least one pesticide, while 30% had residues of 10 or more pesticides.

Spinach

Conventionally grown spinach, in the second spot again this year, has more pesticide residues by weight than all other produce tested, "with three-fourths of samples tested contaminated with a neurotoxic bug killer banned from use on food crops in Europe," EWG says.

Kale

Kale was joined in third place by collard and mustard greens, which most commonly tested positive for DCPA, which the US Environmental Protection Agency classified as a possible carcinogen in 1995.

Nectarines

Nectarines are fourth on the list this year. More than 90% of samples of strawberries, apples, cherries, spinach, nectarines and leafy greens tested positive for residues of two or more pesticides.

Apples

Apples are fifth this year, the EWG said. Apples are typically treated with diphenylamine, a chemical treatment used to prevent brown or black patches. Diphenylamine is banned in Europe due to a link to stomach and esophageal cancers.

Grapes

Grapes came in sixth on the list. Since 2004, EWG has used government testing data to report on pesticide levels.

Cherries

Cherries are eighth on the list this year. The Pesticide Data Program reports issued by the US Department of Agriculture indicated that when pesticide residues are found on foods, they are nearly always at levels below the human tolerance limits set by the agency.

Peaches

Peaches are typically on the Dirty Dozen list. The list is based off more than 40,000 fruit and vegetable samples tested by the US Food and Drug Administration and the US Department of Agriculture.

Pears

Pears rank ninth on the list. The recommendations from EWG are to buy and eat organic produce if possible, especially the fruits and vegetables found on the Dirty Dozen list.

Sweet Bell Peppers 

Bell and hot peppers were tested for the first time since 2011-2012, and had more types of pesticides than any other produce. Peppers contained 115 pesticides in total and 21 more pesticides than the crops with the second highest amount -- kale, collard and mustard greens.

Celery

Celery ranks 11th on the Dirty Dozen list. Experts agree that even with the growing concern for the effects of pesticides, fruits and vegetables are an important part of a daily diet.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes came in last on the list. Research on the effects of pesticides on organisms is ongoing, and there is not a complete understanding of whether there is a particular amount of pesticides considered to be safe.

So how can you steer clear of the risks these fruits and vegetables may pose to you and your family? Purchasing Certified Organic fruits and vegetables is one way. With restrictions the FDA implements on the “ORGANIC” seal, this is by far the safest most effective way to keep yourself and your family safe.

The report also offers consumers a list of the "Clean Fifteen" -- foods with the least amount of pesticides. Nearly 70% of the "Clean" fruit and vegetable samples had no pesticide residues, making them a safer choice, EWG says.

"Multiple pesticide residues are extremely rare on Clean Fifteen vegetables," the EWG report stated. "Only 8 percent of Clean Fifteen fruit and vegetable samples had two or more pesticides."

Vegetables on this list include sweet corn, onions, frozen peas, eggplant, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and mushrooms.

The guide's cleanest fruits include pineapple, papaya, kiwi, honeydew melon, cantaloupe and avocado (yes, it's a fruit). Avocados and sweet corn were the least contaminated, the report found, with less than 2% of samples showing detectable pesticide residue.