Apples Strike Again! The 2013 Dirty Dozen

Every year, the Environmental Working Group releases its list of the DIRTY DOZEN – the 12 fruits and vegetables most contaminated by pesticides when conventionally grown.

If you can’t afford to buy organic, the EWG does point out that “eating conventionally-grown produce is far better than not eating fruits and vegetables at all”. That’s where their annual list comes in really handy – if you can’t afford to buy organic all of the time, you can find out what fruits and veggies you should consider buying organic in order to limit your pesticide exposure.

Guess who topped the list again this year? Those seemingly innocent apples. (Seriously, did we learn nothing from Snow White, people??)

Here’s the Dirty Dozen – the list of fruits and vegetables 
most contaminated by pesticides:

1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Cherry tomatoes
4. Cucumbers
5. Grapes (ahem….)

6. Hot peppers
7. Nectarines (imported)
8. Peaches
9. Potatoes
10. Spinach
11. Strawberries
12. Sweet Bell Peppers
But wait, there’s more!! This year, the EWG has added a category called Plus to the list – there are 2 extra crops this year which do not meet the criteria for the Dirty Dozen (that’s good, right?) but were “commonly contaminated with pesticides exceptionally toxic to the nervous system”. (Oh wait, no, that’s bad!)

+ Kale/Collard Greens
+ Summer Squash

Okay, enough with the bad news! Along with the Dirty Dozen, the EWG also helpfully includes a list of the Clean Fifteen alongside the pesticide offenders. You can feel easier about buying these 15 crops conventionally-grown if you’re looking to save some money.


Here’s the list of The Clean Fifteen:

1. Asparagus
2. Avocados
3. Cabbage
4. Cantaloupe
5. Corn
6. Eggplant
7. Grapefruit
8. Kiwi
9. Mangos
10. Mushrooms (see how harmless they look?)

11. Onions
12. Papayas
13. Pineapples
14. Sweet peas (frozen)
15. Sweet potatoes

You can read the EWG’s executive summary, along with the lists of both the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen here.  They also have a link to their full list of 48 crops tested, ranked from most to least pesticide residue found. Remember, they stress that whether you buy all organic or all conventional, the important thing is to eat fruits and vegetables. In fact, they begin their report with “Eat fruits and vegetables!” (Yes, the exclamation point is theirs.)
Also, in case you were wondering, I did draw those little faces. My husband was very confused when he found produce both scowling and smiling happily at him in the kitchen. I told him it was for the blog. I don’t think that cleared anything up for him.
Do you buy organic produce?

Will you take this list into account when you’re grocery shopping next?

Have you ever drawn faces on fruit or vegetables?




6 thoughts on “Apples Strike Again! The 2013 Dirty Dozen”

  1. Surprised blueberries aren’t on the list this year!! Of course all the vegetables we like are the ones on the Dirty Dozen… Which is why we are joining an organic CSA this year 🙂 Very excited!

  2. i’m just going to try to scrub my fruits and veggies better than ever after reading this – and i do like to write messages on bananas with a toothpick for kicks and giggles

  3. Emily, hi! Welcome back! 🙂 I want to hear more about your CSA. Blog about it! 😉

    Eden, that’s so funny! I’ll have to try that for my son. Bananas are his fave.

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