HomeNutritionDiet2024’s Dirty Dozen And Clean Fifteen

2024’s Dirty Dozen And Clean Fifteen

Every year the Environmental Working Group publishes a list of the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen produce, describing the most contaminated and lowest amounts of pesticide/fungicide residue found

According to the EWG’s 2024 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™, close to 75% of non-organic fresh produce sold in America contains residues of potentially harmful pesticides and fungicides. Every year the Environmental Working Group (EWG) publishes a list of the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen describing the most contaminated and lowest amounts of pesticide/fungicide residue found on produce based on analysis of testing data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Before Testing

The USDA peels or scrubs and washes produce samples before they’re tested, whereas the FDA removes only dirt first. Even after these steps, the agencies’ tests still found traces of 254 pesticides in all fruits and vegetables tested – and 209 of these were on Dirty Dozen produce.

The data used for this year’s guide was drawn from 47,510 samples of 46 fruits and vegetables, and the analysis showed fungicides to be four of the five most frequently detected chemicals in fruit and vegetables: fludioxonil, pyraclostrobin, boscalid, and pyrimethanil.

The Dirty Dozen

Fludioxonil and pyrimethanil were found in the highest average concentrations of any pesticides found on the Dirty Dozen. Both fungicides may be endocrine disruptors with the potential to harm the male reproductive system.

Overall, 75% of all conventional fresh produce sampled had residues of potentially harmful pesticides. However, among the items on the Dirty Dozen, 95% of the samples contained pesticides. Of the 46 foods included in EWG’s analysis, the following were the most contaminated, and are known as the Dirty Dozen:

  1. Strawberries
  2. Spinach
  3. Kale, collard, and mustard greens
  4. Grapes
  5. Peaches
  6. Pears
  7. Nectarines
  8. Apples
  9. Bell and hot peppers
  10. Cherries
  11. Blueberries
  12. Green beans.

209 pesticides were found in total, with 13-23 pesticides in at least one sample of each item. Over 50 different pesticides were detected on every type of crop on the list except cherries. Over 90% of samples of strawberries, apples, cherries, spinach, nectarines, and grapes tested positive for residues of two or more pesticides. Over 100 total pesticides were detected on kale, collard and mustards greens, as well as hot and bell peppers. 

Fungicides 

Fungicides are applied to produce items to prevent or kill fungal diseases and they are often applied to keep produce mold-free on the way to market.

Pesticides and fungicides may harm human hormone systems, 4 of the five most frequently detected chemicals this year are fungicides fludioxonil, pyraclostrobin, boscalid, and pyrimethanil. 

Fludioxonil and pyrimethanil, which were found in the highest average concentrations of any pesticides may be endocrine disruptors with the potential to harm the male reproductive system. Other fungicides are linked to similar health harms, and many others have yet to be studied adequately. 

Potential human health harms of fungicides aren’t as well studied as other pesticides, but emerging evidence suggests many widely used fungicides may disrupt the hormone system. 

The Clean Fifteen 

Close to 65% of EWG’s 2024 Clean Fifteen fruit and vegetable samples had no detectable pesticide residues. The Clean Fifteen list includes:

  1. Avocados
  2. Sweet corn
  3. Pineapple
  4. Onions
  5. Papaya
  6. Sweet Peas (frozen)
  7. Asparagus
  8. Honeydew melon
  9. Kiwi
  10. Cabbage
  11. Watermelon
  12. Mushrooms
  13. Mangoes
  14. Sweet potatoes
  15. Carrots

No more than 3 pesticides appeared in samples of the first 6 Clean Fifteen items, and 65% of collected samples had zero detectable pesticides. Only 10% of the items on this list contained 2 or more pesticides. Less than 2% of avocados and sweet corn samples showed any detectable pesticides making them the cleanest on this list. 

Results from this year show that the overall picture still remains problematic in that too many pesticides are still being found in too high quantities on too much of the produce that is making it into the diet of millions of Americans every day.


As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement. Additionally, it is not intended to malign any religion, ethic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. 

Content may be edited for style and length.

References/Sources/Materials provided by:

T.J.W. at WHN

https://www.ewg.org/foodnews

https://www.food-safety.com/articles/9329-ewg-publishes-2024-dirty-dozen-list-of-produce-most-contaminated-with-pesticides

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3114813

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27539251

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21310686

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896972106366X

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045653523019999

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5726929

https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/reg_actions/registration/fs_PC-128008_01-Jul-03.pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10648374

https://worldhealth.net/news/2023s-dirty-dozen-and-clean-fifteen/

Tamsyn Julie Webber
Tamsyn Julie Webberhttp://www.worldhealth.net
I'm a healthy aging advocate and journalist at WorldHealth.net working to help spread the message of Alternative Medicine, longevity, health, wellness, well-being, and the use of gentler more natural approaches whenever possible. To keep receiving the free newsletter opt in.