EWG’s Clean 15 & Dirty Dozen (2021 Version)

Every year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) publishes a list of the Clean 15 and the Dirty Dozen. So what are these? Well, the Clean 15 list lists 15 fruits and vegetables that you can buy without making sure they are certified organic. On the other hand, the Dirty Dozen list lists 12 fruits and vegetables that you should not buy without them being certified organic. All fruits and vegetables not marked with a “Certified Organic” logo are treated with harsh pesticides known to harm humans. In an effort to prevent us from consuming those contaminants, we should always try to buy organic food. 

Almost 70% of non-organic produce (sold in the United States) contains some amount of harmful pesticides and chemicals. Many of these pesticides are believed to be carcinogens by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). 

Clean 15: Typically fruits/vegetables with thicker skins will be on this list as it is more difficult for the pesticides to seep through than it would be on a fruit/vegetable without tough exterior.

1. 1. 1. 1. Avocados
         2. Sweet Corn **
         3. Pineapple
         4. Onions
         5. Papaya **
         6. Frozen Sweet Peas
         7. Eggplant
         8. Asparagus
         9. Broccoli
         10. Cabbage
         11. Kiwi
         12. Cauliflower
         13. Mushrooms
         14. Honeydew Melon
         15. Cantaloupe

**Note: According to EWG, “A small amount of sweet corn, papaya and summer squash sold in the United States is produced from genetically modified seeds. Buy organic varieties of these crops if you want to avoid genetically modified produce.”

Dirty Dozen: 

1. 1. 1. 1. Strawberries
         2. Spinach
         3. Kale, Collard & Mustard Greens
         4. Nectarines
         5. Apples
         6. Grapes
         7. Cherries
         8. Peaches
         9. Pears
         10. Bell and Hot Peppers
         11. Celery
         12. Tomatoes

If you would like to learn more, I recommend visiting this link: https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php 

It’s an article written by the EWG Science Team that goes into depth about the various pesticides / chemicals used and its effects.