pesticides

Avoiding the Risks of Pesticides

by
Bananas

Recent research has shown a link in pesticides and the rise of early onset colon cancer. This can serve us all as a reminder that pesticides have very real risks and damaging effects on our bodies and our lives. There are significant reasons to eat organic foods, and this seems like a good time to review EWG’s Dirty Dozen list for 2026, as well as their ‘Clean Fifteen’.

EWG

As a reminder, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) tests fruits and vegetables each year to gauge how contaminated they are. The list of the most contaminated foods is called the Dirty Dozen and it changes slightly each year. These are the foods to prioritize buying only organic options because they have the most toxic residue on them when grown conventionally. The Clean Fifteen is the list of the produce with the least amount of toxic residue when grown conventionally. The lists on EWG’s website have more information, so I recommend checking that out, but for the TL; DR:

The 2026 Dirty Dozen

  • 1. Spinach
  • 2. Kale, Collard Greens, and Mustard Greens
  • 3. Strawberries
  • 4. Grapes
  • 5. Nectarines
  • 6. Peaches
  • 7. Cherries
  • 8. Apples
  • 9. Blackberries
  • 10. Pears
  • 11. Potatoes
  • 12. Blueberries

The 2026 Clean Fifteen

  • 1. Pineapples
  • 2. Sweet Corn (fresh and frozen)
  • 3. Avocados
  • 4. Papaya
  • 5. Onion
  • 6. Sweet Peas (frozen)
  • 7. Asparagus
  • 8. Cabbage
  • 9. Cauliflower
  • 10. Watermelon
  • 11. Mangoes
  • 12. Bananas
  • 13. Carrots
  • 14. Mushrooms
  • 15. Kiwi

Eat well and thrive🍓🌿✨.

EWG’s Dirty Dozen Updated

by
Strawberry

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) puts out an updated list of the produce that contains the most toxins each year, as well as the produce that has the least. They test 47 types of produce and the ones that are contaminated with the most pesticides are called the ‘Dirty Dozen’ and the ones that are least contaminated are the ‘Clean Fifteen’.  

These lists are good references when making choices about when to spend more money on the organic version and when to save money by buying conventional produce when it is too expensive to buy all organic food.  

Dirty Dozen as of 2025:  

  1. Spinach 
  1. Strawberries 
  1. Kale, Collard, and Mustard Greens 
  1. Grapes 
  1. Peaches 
  1. Cherries 
  1. Nectarines 
  1. Pears 
  1. Apples 
  1. Blackberries 
  1. Blueberries 
  1. Potatoes 

Clean Fifteen as of 2025 

  1. Pineapples 
  1. Sweet Corn Fresh and Frozen 
  1. Avocados 
  1. Papaya 
  1. Onion 
  1. Sweet Peas (Frozen) 
  1. Asparagus 
  1. Cabbage 
  1. Watermelon 
  1. Cauliflower 
  1. Bananas 
  1. Mangoes 
  1. Carrots 
  1. Mushrooms 
  1. Kiwi 

I like knowing where it is most important to focus my organic-only dollars and appreciate that the EWG updates these lists yearly. It would be ideal if we did not need these lists at all, and maybe if you grow your own food, you don’t, but for the rest of us, the more we know, the better choices we can make.

Eat Well!🍓🍌🌿🍆✨