‘Dirty dozen’ fruits and vegetables found to be contaminated with pesticides — including chemicals banned in the EU

Many of us are constantly on a mission to eat more fruits and vegetables — and for good reason.

High produce intake is associated with everything from better heart health, skin and vision, cognitive function, cancer prevention and weight management.

However, when it comes to toxic chemicals, not all produce is created equal.

A new report by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has named and shamed the “Dirty Dozen” — 12 conventionally-grown produce items found to be contaminated with high levels of pesticides, including some chemicals banned in Europe.

Spinach, strawberries and kale once again top the list, which is based on USDA tests of more than 53,000 samples of 47 fruits and vegetables.

Blackberries are a new addition, after the USDA found pesticides including cypermethrin — which is classified as a carcinogen by the EPA — in over 93% of samples.

Potatoes were back following a brief hiatus, after 90% of samples were found to contain chlorpropham, a chemical that has been banned in the EU.

“It’s applied after harvest to essentially prevent potatoes from sprouting while they’re in storage or in transit,” Alexis Temkin, EWG’s vice president of science, told CNN.

“Because it’s applied so late after harvest and so close to when consumers might be exposed or eating potatoes, that’s partially what leads to some of these really high concentrations.”

The full 2025 “Dirty Dozen” — which is really more like “Filthy Fourteen” — list includes:

Temkin emphasized that the list is meant to help shoppers make informed decisions about their produce, not to discourage people from eating it.

“EWG’s Shopper’s Guide is a tool to inform consumers and help them with their produce shopping choices, with the goal of everyone eating more fruits and vegetables” Temkin said in a press release.

“For people looking to reduce pesticide exposure, buying from the Clean Fifteen is a great place to start.”

Bananas and cauliflower were added to this year’s Clean Fifteen — a list of conventionally-grown produce with the least amount of pesticides.

The full list includes:

While washing produce is always a good idea, don’t count on it to completely rid your salad of synthetic leftovers.

According to the EWG, the produce samples were all washed and peeled before testing, meaning those pesticide residues were stubborn enough to survive a rinse.

Pesticides have been linked to a range of potential health risks, particularly in children, whose developing bodies and brains are more vulnerable to chemical exposure.

Studies have associated chronic, low-level pesticide exposure with increased risks of developmental delays, hormone disruption, behavioral issues and certain cancers.

To “detox” your fruits and veggies from harmful chemicals, experts recommend using apple cider vinegar or simply rinsing them under warm water, without using soap.