Overview

• Spinach leads the Dirty Dozen with the highest pesticide residue by weight and over 90% of samples across the list tested positive for potentially harmful chemicals.
• First-time entrant blackberries and readded potatoes showed significant residue, the latter largely due to postharvest chlorpropham treatments.
• Rankings draw on USDA data that replicates consumer washing and peeling to measure pesticide detection rates, combined residue levels and relative toxicity.
• The Clean Fifteen list highlights low-residue produce such as pineapple, sweet corn, avocados and papaya.
• EWG advises shoppers to choose organic versions of high-residue items and to thoroughly wash all produce before consumption.