The non-profit EWG, after analyzing nearly 43,000 tests conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on produce, released the "Dirty Dozen" and "Clean Fifteen" lists of fruits and vegetables.
The 12 fruits and vegetables with the highest concentrations of pesticide residues, ranked from most to least contaminated, are: peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, imported grapes, spinach, lettuce, and potatoes.
The 15 fruits and vegetables with the lowest concentrations of pesticide residues, ranked from cleanest to least clean, are: onions, avocados, frozen sweet corn, pineapples, mangoes, asparagus, frozen peas, kiwis, bananas, cabbage, broccoli, and papayas.
These results indicate that consumers can reduce their pesticide intake by nearly 90% by avoiding the most contaminated produce. People who eat fruits and vegetables from the Dirty Dozen list are exposed to an average of 15 different pesticides a day, while those who eat from the Clean Fifteen list are exposed to fewer than two different pesticides daily.
Experts suggest that when purchasing produce on the "Dirty Dozen" list, try to buy organic. If organic options are unavailable or too expensive, be sure to wash them thoroughly before eating. Thorough washing can reduce pesticide intake by one-third to one-half.