Dirty Dozen, Clean 15, Fruits & Veggies

Dirty Dozen and Clean 15

The following lists, generated by the Environmental Working Group, reflect the highest and lowest amounts of pesticide residue found on produce.   Because organics are more expensive, this information facilitates the consumers’ ability to get the most bang for their buck.  The lists are updated yearly.  Along with this 2012 list comes a recommendation to add green beans and kale to the dirty dozen.  (If they in fact did this, a renaming of the list to the dirty “14” would be necessitated, not nearly as catchy!)  

More information can be found on this website:

http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/

Dirty Dozen

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

  

Clean 15

1. onions
2. corn
3. pineapples
4. avocado
5. asparagus
6. sweet peas
7. mangoes
8. egg plant
9. cantaloupe
10. kiwi
11. cabbage
12. water melon
13. sweet potatoes
14. grapefruit
15. mushrooms