When to buy Organic - The dirty dozen and clean 15 for 2025

🥬 What Are the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen?

EWG’s Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen are annual rankings of non-organic (conventionally grown) produce based on pesticide contamination. These rankings help consumers reduce pesticide exposure in their diet, especially when organic options are limited.

• Dirty Dozen = Highest pesticide residues

• Clean Fifteen = Lowest pesticide residues

🚫 2025 Dirty Dozen (Buy Organic When Possible)

These items tested high for pesticide residues even after being washed and peeled:

1. Spinach

2. Strawberries

3. Kale, Collard & Mustard Greens

4. Grapes

5. Peaches

6. Cherries

7. Nectarines

8. Pears

9. Apples

10. Blackberries

11. Blueberries

12. Potatoes - the most consumed vegetable in the US. Avoid at restaurants, bakes, mashed or French fries.

    + Peppers – Bell & Hot Peppers 🔥🫑 (Grouped due to high pesticide residues across all varieties)

    Green Beans

💡 Thin skins and leafy surfaces absorb more pesticide, making these especially important to buy organic.

Fungicides in the Dirty Dozen

Fungicides are among the most prevalent pesticides found on the Dirty Dozen, such as:

• fludioxonil

• pyraclostrobin

• boscalid

• pyrimethanil

These may pose risks to humans, particularly to hormonal balance.

Fludioxonil is problematic because this fungicide is linked to breast cancer since it acts like estrogen. It also can have harmful effects to male reproduction. Pyrimethanil has been foundto potentially block androgen receptors and lead to thyroid disruptions.

There is animal research that shows pyraclostrobin may be associated with liver toxicity in and metabolic disorders. Boscalid has been linked to cancer, thyroid issues and hormone disruptions in animal studies.

Worrisome side of citrus

EWG also has raised red flags when it comes to non-organic citrus over the years, even though citrus didn’t land on the Dirty Dozen list. The organization found that almost 90 percent of citrus samples analyzed in 2020 tested positive for imazalil, a fungicide that can interfere with hormone levels. The EPA dubbed this fungicide a “likely human carcinogen.”

USDA’s own 2019 testing looking at tangerines found more than 95 percent tested positive for imazalil, too.

✅ 2025 Clean Fifteen (Safe to Buy Conventional)

These items showed little to no pesticide contamination:

1. Pineapple

2. Sweet corn (fresh and frozen)

3. Avocados

4. Papaya

5. Onions

6. Sweet peas (frozen)

7. Asparagus

8. Cabbage

9. Watermelon

10. Cauliflower

11. Bananas

12. Mangoes

13. Carrots

14. Mushrooms

15. Kiwi

💡 Fruits and veggies with thick skins or peels generally rank better due to natural protection.

🌱 Why It Matters

• Pesticides can disrupt hormones, impact fertility, and affect children's development.

• Eating organic Dirty Dozen produce reduces exposure significantly.

• Eating Clean Fifteen conventional options helps stretch your grocery budget wisely.

🛒 Shopping Tips

• Buy organic for Dirty Dozen items when possible.

• Go conventional for Clean Fifteen to save money.

• Wash all produce well—even those with skins or peels.

• Support local farmers who may use fewer synthetic chemicals.

Coach❤️Theah tip, when eating out avoid eating from the dirty dozen list!

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Health Risks from Pesticides in Produce

Consumers deserve to know what’s on their food—especially when it comes to pesticides. Peer-reviewed scientific studies have shown that pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables may have harmful health effects.

Impact on Chronic Disease and Mortality

Eating fruits and vegetables is generally linked to better heart health and lower mortality. However, studies show that consuming produce with high pesticide residues may reduce these protective benefits, weakening their role in preventing cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses.

Fertility and Reproductive Health

Pesticides may also impact reproductive health.

• One study found that produce low in pesticide residues was associated with improved sperm quality.

• Another linked high-residue produce to reduced ovarian function.

Cancer, Diabetes, and Long-Term Exposure

A large French population study (2014–2020) found that certain mixtures of pesticides were associated with a higher risk of breast cancer and Type 2 diabetes.Importantly, a low-pesticide diet was linked to reduced risks of both conditions.

These findings raise a critical concern: people may be exposed to multiple pesticide chemicals through a single meal, compounding potential risks.

Children and Pesticide Exposure

Children are especially vulnerable. Pesticide exposure during pregnancy and early life can have lasting health effects.

• In 2020, an EWG study published in Environmental Health revealed that the EPA failed to apply a legally mandated safety factor designed to protect children for nearly 90% of the most common pesticides.

• This “children’s health safety factor”, required by the Food Quality Protection Act, was established to ensure stricter exposure limits for young populations.

This lack of protection is especially troubling given that the risks to infants and children have been known since at least 1993, when the National Academies published a landmark report warning of inadequate pesticide oversight in children’s diets.

What You Can Do

The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages parents to consult EWG’s Shopper’s Guide if they’re concerned about pesticide exposure in their children’s diet.

💡 Tip: Use the EWG’s Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen to make informed produce choices and reduce pesticide exposure for your family.

#CoachTheah

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