Organic Produce: Clean 15 & Dirty Dozen

October 22, 2012

The EWG (Environmental Working Group) has developed some useful information for consumers called the Clean 15 (safest to eat non-organic) and the Dirty Dozen (the worst items to eat non-organic).  The EWG Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™ will help you determine which fruits and vegetables have the most pesticide residues and are the most important to buy organic. You can lower your pesticide intake substantially by avoiding the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables and eating the least contaminated produce.   You can actually download a printable version of these or add the app to your phone to take with you to the grocery store.  

Clean 15 (safest to eat non-organic)

  1. Onions
  2. Sweet Corn
  3. Pineapples
  4. Avocado
  5. Cabbage
  6. Sweet Peas
  7. Asparagus
  8. Magoes
  9. Eggplant
  10. Kiwi
  11. Cantaloupe – domestic
  12. Sweet Potatoes
  13. Graprefruit
  14. Watermelon
  15. Mushrooms

The Dirty Dozen (worst to eat non-organic)

  1. Apples
  2. Celery
  3. Sweet Bell Peppers
  4. Peaches
  5. Strawberries
  6. Nectarines – imported
  7. Grapes
  8. Spinach
  9. Lettuce
  10. Cucumbers
  11. Blueberries – domestic
  12. Potatoes
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