The Environmental Working Group has released its latest ranking of conventionally grown fruits and vegetables with the most pesticide residue — the “Dirty Dozen” list — and added two new foods to it.
Both blackberries and potatoes were new entries on this year’s list of the “dirtiest” types of produce that you’ll likely find at your favorite grocery store, farmers market or other outlet, at least according to the annual analysis. The produce rankings are based on testing of over 53,000 produce samples by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The two new items edged out green beans and bell and hot peppers from their spots in last year’s Dirty Dozen.
It’s the first time the USDA included blackberries in testing for pesticide residues, according to the EWG’s 2025 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce. More than 90% of conventional blackberries had detectable pesticide residues, with an average of four pesticides per sample.
In 90% of potatoes, the analysis detected the presence of a post-harvest sprout inhibitor that the European Union banned in 2019 over health concerns for consumers and farmers.
Also in this year’s report, spinach topped strawberries to finish in the No. 1 spot on the Dirty Dozen list. The leafy green has more pesticides by weight than any other type of produce this year.
More than 90% of samples of conventional, or nonorganic, produce on the Dirty Dozen list contained at least some residue from pesticides that are linked to potential health issues, such as cancer or harm to the nervous system.
The fruits and vegetables that made the 2025 Dirty Dozen list are:
- Spinach
- Strawberries
- Kale, collard and mustard greens
- Grapes
- Peaches
- Cherries
- Nectarines
- Pears
- Apples
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Potatoes
Those are the worst of 47 types of produce that the EWG scrutinized this year.
This year, the EWG tweaked its methodology a bit. In addition to looking at the detected frequency and concentration of pesticides in produce, the EWG also took into account a pesticide’s toxicity, or its ability to cause harm.
Opposite the Dirty Dozen in the EWG report is what the group calls the “Clean Fifteen,” the types of produce that fared best in terms of pesticide residue.
In fact, looking at the Clean Fifteen as a whole, almost 60% of samples had no detectable pesticide residue.
The 2025 Clean Fifteen are:
- Pineapples
- Sweet corn, fresh and frozen
- Avocados
- Papaya
- Onion
- Sweet peas (frozen)
- Asparagus
- Cabbage
- Watermelon
- Cauliflower
- Bananas
- Mangoes
- Carrots
- Mushrooms
- Kiwi
The EWG notes that prior to USDA tests, produce samples are washed, scrubbed or peeled. Despite that, pesticide residues still remained at detectable levels.
For shoppers seeking to reduce their exposure to pesticides, the nonprofit advises choosing organic when it comes to the foods on the Dirty Dozen list.
On the other hand, shoppers can feel safe choosing either organic or conventional produce found on the Clean Fifteen list.
If this news is enough to make you want to try growing your own produce, check out “How to Start a Vegetable Garden (That Won’t Overwhelm You).”
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