Strawberries continue to lead the “Dirty Dozen” list of fruits and veggies that contain the highest levels of pesticides, followed by spinach, kale, collard and mustard — nectarines, apples, and grapes, according to the Environmental Working Group’s 2021 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce. Cherries came in seventh on the list of the most contaminated foods, followed by peaches, pears, bell and hot peppers, celery, and tomatoes. Avoiding pesticides is especially critical for babies and children, experts say, because of the damage they can cause to the developing brain.
The report also offers consumers a list of the “Clean Fifteen” — foods with the least amount of pesticides. Vegetables on this list include sweet corn, onions, frozen peas, eggplant, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and mushrooms.
The guide’s cleanest fruits include pineapple, papaya, kiwi, honeydew melon, cantaloupe and avocados.
