Every year, an organization called the Environmental Working Group (EWG) releases its Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce to help us make sense of it all. The guide is broken down into two lists that the EWG calls the “Dirty Dozen” (the produce with the most pesticide residues), and the “Clean 15” (the produce with the least pesticide residue). These lists are based on data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), reflecting what is actually found on fruits and vegetables after they’ve been washed and/or peeled.
What Is the Environmental Working Group?
The EWG is a United States-based nonprofit organization founded in 1993. It specializes in research and advocacy related to agricultural subsidies, toxic chemicals, and drinking water safety. Founded by Ken Cook and Richard Wiles, the EWG has been operational for over 30 years. Beyond produce, it is also known for its Skin Deep® cosmetics database and its lobbying arm, the EWG Action Fund.
Dirty, Clean, or Just Complicated?
If we dig a little deeper, what emerges is an ongoing debate over whether the EWG is free from bias.
The Stated Position of the EWG: The EWG describes itself as a non-partisan watchdog whose mission it is “to empower you with breakthrough research to make informed choices and live a healthy life in a healthy environment” (1). They claim their research is independent and intended to empower consumers when government and industry fall short. Furthermore, the EWG maintains they are an independent 501(c) primarily funded by individual donations and private foundations. They claim to fill a gap where government regulation is too slow or overly influenced by “Big Ag”.
The Case for Potential Bias and Financial Conflict: Critics point to past and present financial ties to the organic food industry, such as the Organic Voices Action Fund, which is funded by major organic brands like Stonyfield and Organic Valley. While the EWG notes that corporate funding is a small portion of its total revenue, critics argue these ties incentivize fear-based marketing that benefits organic brands.
Criticism from Scientists: Some in the scientific community, particularly toxicologists, criticize the EWG’s methodology for its Dirty Dozen list. They argue the list lacks scientific credibility because it ranks produce based on the number of pesticide residues found rather than the actual levels or toxicity, which are often below UDSA and FDA safety thresholds.
EWG versus Regulatory Standards
There is a fundamental philosophical difference between the EWG and government agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and USDA.
The EPA/USDA Position: These agencies state that 99% of tested produce samples have residues well below established safety standards, with many having no detectable residue at all.
The EWG Position: The EWG argues that just because pesticide levels are legal doesn’t necessarily make them safe. They believe current federal limits are outdated and fail to account for the cumulative effects of even small amounts of pesticides, especially for vulnerable populations like children.
The 2026 EWG Shopper’s Guide
2026 Dirty Dozen List: If you are looking to prioritize your organic budget, these are the twelve items where it makes the most impact. Notably, strawberries have been at the top of the list since 2016.
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Kale, Collard & Mustard Greens
- Grapes
- Peaches
- Pears
- Nectarines
- Apples
- Bell & Hot Peppers
- Cherries
- Blueberries
- Green Beans
2026 Clean 15 List: On the flip side, these items have little to no detectable pesticide residue, making them safer to buy from conventional growers:
- Avocados
- Sweet Corn
- Pineapple
- Onions
- Papaya
- Sweet Peas (frozen)
- Asparagus
- Honeydew Melon
- Kiwi
- Cabbage
- Watermelon
- Mushrooms
- Mangoes
- Sweet Potatoes
- Carrots
In Summary
It is important to remember that eating conventional produce is always better than eating no produce at all. While a 100% organic cart isn’t financially feasible for everyone, these lists allow you to be a strategic shopper. For example, since strawberries have topped the Dirty Dozen list for many years, that might be the one item you choose to buy organic, while feeling perfectly confident grabbing conventional avocados or onions from the Clean 15 list. Being aware of these rankings allows you to reduce your pesticide exposure where it matters most, without breaking the bank.
Further reading representing both sides of the debate:
1.ewg.org
2.ewg-comment-fda-post-market-review.pdf
4.Temkin AM, et al. A Cumulative Dietary Pesticide Exposure Score Based On Produce Consumption is Associated with Urinary Pesticide Biomarkers in a U.S. Biomonitoring Cohort. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health 2025 Sep;270:114654.
6.https://www.safefruitsandveggies.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/pesticides-in-perspective.pdf
