You’ve likely heard of the Dirty Dozen. You may have also heard of the Clean 15. Do you use these lists?

What is the Dirty Dozen?

The Dirty Dozen is the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) list of the fruits and vegetables, when tested, contained the highest levels of potentially harmful pesticide residue. The list has been updated based on 2023 testing.

EWG is a non-profit organization that’s been around since 1993. Read more about EWG and what they do.

“Pesticides are potentially toxic to humans and can have both acute and chronic health effects, depending on the quantity and ways in which a person is exposed.” World Health Organization [source]

Dirty Dozen Top 5

1) Strawberries

2) Spinach

3) Kale, Collard Greens, Mustard Greens

4) Peaches

5) Pears

Read the full list.

Why do I choose organic?

• I’m not willing to take the pesticide risk.

• I’m already relying on my body to ‘take care of’ toxins in the air. I live in an urban environment. The air quality is not great. There are toxins in tap water, etc. etc. We are all exposed to environmental toxins in the modern world. My body has enough to deal with to keep me in optimal health. I don’t need to add to that burden.

• The benefits of organic farming are vast. I feel good about putting my money where my mouth is.

What is the Clean 15?

The Clean 15 is EWG’s list of the fruits and vegetables that, when tested, were found to contain the least amount of pesticide residue.

If access or budget are issues, this list is a great reference. I wrote more about how I think about what I spend on food in this post.

Clean 15 Top 5

1) Avocados

2) Sweet corn

3) Pineapple

4) Onions

5) Papaya

Read the full list.

What do you think about pesticide use and organic farming? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!

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