Dirty Dozen / Clean Fifteen

EWG's guide to pesticide residue levels in produce (2024 list)

How to Use This

How to Use This: Save this list to your phone or print it for grocery shopping. Buy organic for the Dirty Dozen when possible. Save money by buying conventional for the Clean Fifteen — their thick skins or natural pest resistance mean low pesticide levels.

Dirty Dozen (Buy Organic)

These have the highest pesticide residue levels. Prioritize organic for these items.

Rank	Produce Item	Pesticide Residue Level
1	Strawberries	Very High — up to 22 different pesticides
2	Spinach	Very High — highest by weight

Clean Fifteen (Conventional OK)

These have the lowest pesticide residue. Save your budget and buy conventional.

Rank	Produce Item	Pesticide Residue Level
1	Avocados	Very Low — <2% had any residue
2	Sweet Corn	Very Low — thick husk protects

Can't afford all organic? Wash conventional produce with a baking soda soak (1 tsp per 2 cups water for 12-15 minutes) to remove up to 80% of surface pesticide residues. Plain water removes about 50%.

Next Steps

Next Steps: Use the Grocery Store Label Decoder Card and the Pantry Swap Guide to continue improving your family's food quality beyond produce.