The Truth Behind the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen: A Guide to Choosing Produce

Do you shop by the ‘Dirty Dozen’ and ‘Clean Fifteen’? These lists that emerge each year raise pressing questions about what’s really in our carts and on our plates and how it may be affecting our health.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is the organization that releases a report each year, offering guidance about which types of produce are most likely to be contaminated with pesticides and which have the lowest rates during testing. This group is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment. These lists categorize fruits and vegetables based on the level of pesticide contamination found on them, with the Dirty Dozen representing those with the highest levels of residues, and the Clean Fifteen showcasing those with the lowest. Their methodology involves analyzing data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the number of pesticides found on fruits and vegetables and the quantity of those pesticides. The EWG has been releasing these lists annually every Spring since 2004 as part of its Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™. The goal is to inform consumers about the pesticide load on their produce so they can make educated choices, particularly when organic options are financially or geographically out of reach.

Here at Foodtrients®, we wanted to break down the history behind these lists, explore some of the controversy surrounding them, and give you the tips you need to make informed decisions for produce and your health.

The Dirty Dozen

While the specific foods on the Dirty Dozen list can vary slightly from year to year, it typically includes fruits and vegetables that are most susceptible to pesticide absorption and retention with #1 being the most contaminated.

Here’s the 2024 list (below) and keep in mind that these get updated every year and have changed over time. Here’s the EWG’s latest publication for the most current information:

The Clean Fifteen

The Clean Fifteen is a list including the produce that contains the least amount of pesticides. It indicates which fruits and vegetables are least susceptible to pesticide absorption and retention. Here’s the most up-to-date list for 2024 with #1 being the least contaminated.

Produce List Controversy

The publication of these lists has been subject to controversy. Critics argue that the lists may deter people from consuming fruits and vegetables, organic or not. Some people fear that the lists could cause unnecessary avoidance and mistrust of some foods. Research has shown that the benefits of eating fresh produce far outweigh the potential risks regarding pesticide exposure. The methodologies used by the EWG to rank the produce have been questioned for not taking into account the actual risk posed by the detected levels of pesticides. They cannot test ALL foods so the produce within the annual testing is only a sample of all foods. Some people believe the lists are misleading to consumers.

Proponents of the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen argue that reducing exposure to pesticides is a worthwhile goal, especially for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children. They also point to studies linking pesticide exposure to health issues to justify a more cautionary approach to non-organic produce consumption. One thing we do know is that while studies have failed to show that organic produce is more nutritious than conventional in meaningful ways, there are likely environmental benefits to humans, the soil, and our water sources that are worth considering as a high priority for the entire food system.

All in all, it’s more important to consume fresh or frozen produce even if you can’t purchase the organic versions. Choosing frozen or canned options could help make organic food purchasing more accessible and this can be a great option, especially off-season. Eating your fruits and veggies should always be a top priority. If you would like to limit pesticide exposure due to the potential health risks over time or the challenges that they could cause for the environment, using the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 can serve as a helpful guide.

References

1. Winter CK. Pesticide Residues in Imported, Organic, and “Suspect” Fruits and Vegetables. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry. 2012;60(18):4425-4429.
2. Tago, D., Andersson, H. and Treich, N. (2014), “Pesticides and Health: A Review of Evidence on Health Effects, Valuation of Risks, and Benefit-Cost Analysis”, Preference Measurement in Health (Advances in Health Economics and Health Services Research, Vol. 24), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 203-295.
3. Reeves WR, McGuire MK, Stokes M, Vicini JL. Assessing the Safety of Pesticides in Food: How Current Regulations Protect Human Health. Adv Nutr. 2019;10(1):80-88.
4. Bonner MR, Alavanja MCR. Pesticides, human health, and food security. Food and Energy Security. 2017;6(3):89-93. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.112
5. Environmental Working Group. Full List. https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/full-list.php. 2024. Accessed June 21, 2024.