“Yes, I’ll have a plate of produce with a side of pesticides to sprinkle all over it,” said no one … ever. But that’s exactly what you’re getting from some produce. And even though you’re thinking about how healthy you’re being for your body, you may be completely wrong.
The nonprofit group called the Environmental Working Group released their list of the “Dirty Dozen” and “Clean Fifteen.” Drawing from data from the Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration, this group analyzes the produce that have the most (and least) pesticide residues on them.
According to this report, strawberries, spinach and kale are the worst offenders of all for 2022. In fact, more than 90% of strawberry, apple, cherry, spinach, nectarine and grape samples tested positive for residues of two or more pesticides.
Kale, collard and mustard greens, hot peppers and bell peppers had the most pesticides. In fact, a single sample of kale, collard and mustard greens had up to 21 different pesticides.
Strawberries and leafy greens have been repeat offenders at the top of the list, ranking high in the past two years. Bell and hot peppers tested higher for pesticide residue this year, moving up from No. 10 last year to No. 7 this year.
The produce with the least amount of pesticides? Avocados, sweet corn and pineapple topped the group’s “Clean Fifteen.”
‘Dirty Dozen’ for 2022
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Kale, collard and mustard greens
- Nectarines
- Apples
- Grapes
- Bell and hot peppers
- Cherries
- Peaches
- Pears
- Celery
- Tomatoes
‘Clean Fifteen’ for 2022
- Avocados
- Sweet corn
- Pineapple
- Onions
- Papaya
- Sweet peas (frozen)
- Asparagus
- Honeydew melon
- Kiwi
- Cabbage
- Mushrooms
- Cantaloupe
- Mangoes
- Watermelon
- Sweet Potatoes
