By Jim Bloch
Now you’ll have to be more careful than ever when selecting fruits and vegetables from your local supermarket and farm stand.
The Environmental Working Group has discovered residual pesticides on 96 percent of the dozen fruits and vegetables it classified as the “Dirty Dozen,” including pesticides containing PFAS.
PFAS is an acronym for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they do not easily breakdown in nature. According to the state of Michigan, exposure to certain PFAS can increase the chances of getting cancer, especially testicular and kidney, and change immune responses; it can increase cholesterol levels and the chance of getting thyroid disease; it can raise high blood pressure in pregnant women and lower a woman’s chance of getting pregnant.
Each year, the EWG analyzes U.S. Department of Agriculture test data to rank fruits and vegetables for the presence of pesticides. The organization assembles two lists to help consumers shop for produce, one called the “Dirty Dozen”, and one called the “Clean Fifteen.”
The group released the lists and accompanying report March 25.
The EWG found that 75 percent of non-organic, conventionally grown fruits and vegetables contained pesticide residues.
“The most frequently detected pesticide across all fruits and vegetables was fludioxonil, a PFAS fungicide linked to some potential health concerns,” the report said. “Three of the 10 most detected pesticides meet the internationally recognized definition of PFAS.”
In 2026, the EWG analyzed USDA residue data from 54,344 samples of 47 fruits and vegetables, detecting 264 pesticides and breakdown products.
“Consumers have a right to know what’s on their food,” said Varnum Subramaniam, a science analyst at EWG, in a statement. “This year’s findings underscore the presence of PFAS pesticides in the food supply. At the same time, the guide shows there are simple steps shoppers can take to reduce exposure while still eating plenty of fruits and vegetables.”
The EWG has published the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen annually since 2004.
The Clean Fifteen
The Clean Fifteen are fruits and vegetables grown conventionally that have the lowest levels of pesticide residues.
The 2026 Clean Fifteen list includes, from top to bottom, pineapple, sweet corn, avocados, papaya, onions, frozen sweet peas, asparagus, cabbage, cauliflower, watermelon, mangoes, bananas, carrots, mushrooms and kiwi.
“Almost 60 percent of the Clean Fifteen samples had no detectable residues of pesticides,” the report said. Only 16% had residues of two or more pesticides. “Among the Dirty Dozen samples, on the other hand, 96 percent had residual pesticide contamination.”
The top items on the Clean Fifteen ranked the lowest for overall pesticide toxicity.
The Dirty Dozen
The Dirty Dozen features “produce with the highest pesticide contamination, based on the number, amount and toxicity of detected pesticide residues,” said the report
Spinach is number one, followed at a trio of leafy greens at number two (kale, collard and mustard greens), then strawberries, grapes, nectarines, peaches, cherries, apples, blackberries, pears, potatoes and blue berries.
“Blackberries, newly tested in recent years, carried an average of more than four pesticides per sample,” according to EWG. “Ninety percent of potatoes contained chlorpropham, a sprout inhibitor banned in the European Union due to health concerns.”
Ninety-six percent of Dirty Dozen samples contained pesticides; 203 different pesticides were detected; PFAS pesticide residues turned up on 63% of Dirty Dozen samples; each fruit or veggies had an average of four or more pesticides per sample.
“Peer-reviewed studies link pesticide exposure to hormone disruption, nervous system harm and reproductive effects,” the report said. “Some research suggests that consuming produce with high pesticide residues may diminish the cardiovascular and fertility benefits typically associated with fruit and vegetable intake. Children are especially vulnerable to pesticide exposure during pregnancy and early life.”
The good news is that residue levels of neurotoxic insecticides known as organophosphates have fallen sharply over the last two decades.
“That represents a major win for children’s health, given these chemicals’ links to harms to the developing brain and nervous system,” the report said.
What to do
Buy organic versions of Dirty Dozen produce when possible. Choose conventionally grown produce from the Clean Fifteen. Consider frozen produce as an affordable alternative. Wash all produce before eating it.
“A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is essential,” said Dayna de Montagnac, associate scientist at EWG, in a statement. “The Shopper’s Guide empowers families to continue enjoying these significant health benefits while making informed choices to reduce pesticide exposure, particularly for children, without sacrificing nutrition.”
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
