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Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen 2019

You may have heard of the dirty dozen and clean fifteen but might not know that this list is updated every year by the Environmental Working Group (EWG).  The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a non-profit, non-partisan organisation dedicated to protecting human health and the environment.



The list below is really useful to be aware of if you're trying to eat organically, eating organic can be pricey and may not always be necessary.   Some smaller farms do use organic practices but haven’t gone through the full organic certification process because it can be really expensive for them to do so as a small business.  It's important to know how your food is grown, and the best way to do this is by getting to know your local farms and farmers’ markets, and asking them about their farms practices.

When shopping at supermarkets I tend to refer to the EWG list when deciding which fruit and vegetables to buy organic.

The top 15 foods with the least pesticides are called the "Clean Fifteen", while the 12 foods with the most pesticides are called the "Dirty Dozen".

The Dirty Dozen
Buy these foods organic whenever possible

  1. Strawberries
  2. Spinach
  3. Kale
  4. Nectarines
  5. Apples
  6. Grapes
  7. Peaches
  8. Cherries
  9. Pears
  10. Tomatoes
  11. Celery
  12. Potatoes


The Clean Fifteen
These are okay to buy non organic if you wish to do so

  1. Avocado
  2. Sweetcorn
  3. Pineapple
  4. Peas
  5. Onion
  6. Papaya
  7. Aubergine
  8. Asparagus
  9. Kiwi
  10. Cabbage
  11. Cauliflower
  12. Cantaloupe Melon
  13. Broccoli
  14. Mushrooms
  15. Honeydew Melon

Washing fruit and vegetables does not necessarily get rid of all pesticides and chemicals as it grows into the entire plant, however, washing can reduce your risk and exposure to these toxins so always wash your fruit and vegetables thoroughly.

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