Pesticides in Produce

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found a total of 230 different pesticides and pesticide breakdown products on the thousands of produce samples analyzed.


For the 2018 Dirty Dozen list, it includes, in descending order, strawberries, spinach, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery, potatoes and sweet bell peppers. Each  of these foods tested positive for a number of different pesticide residues and contained higher concentrations of pesticides than other produce.


The Clean Fifteen list of produce which least likely contain pesticide residues includes avocados, sweet corn, pineapples, cabbages, onions, frozen sweet peas, papayas, asparagus, mangoes, eggplants, honeydews, kiwis, cantaloupes, cauliflower and broccoli. Relatively few pesticides were detected on these foods, and tests found low total concentrations of pesticide residues 

High pesticide residue score

Apples, apple sauces, blueberries, grapes, greenbeans, leafy greens, pears, peaches, potatoes, plums, spinach, strawberries, raisins, sweet peppers, tomatoes, winter squashes

 

Low to moderate pesticide residue score

Apple juice, avocados, bananas, beans, broccoli, cabbages, cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, celery, corn, eggplants, grapefruits, lentils, lettuce, onions, oranges, orange juices, peas, prunes, summer squashes, sweet potatoes, tofu, tomato sauces, zucchini