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The Clean-15 Dirty Dozen, you say.What is it?
Spring has sprung!
It also means that it is time for those of us who love our fresh produce, to get our EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to pesticides in produce.
Why?
Simply because we enjoy seasonal cooking with local produce and want to make sure the one’s we bring home are healthy for us.
In other words, we need to know our Clean 15 Dirty Dozen List for this year!
Table of Contents
What is Clean-15 and Dirty Dozen List?
In the U.S, each year the Environmental Working Group (EWG) publishes a Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, which is popularly known as the Clean-15 Dirty Dozen.
The annual report is published by the Environmental Group, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving human health and environmental protection.
It is a list, that advises shoppers on which fruits and vegetables they should buy organic (grown without the use of pesticides) and which are the safest to buy conventional (grown with pesticides).
What is the Clean-15 list?
The Clean 15 is a collection of produce, that the EWG has found to contain the lowest amount of pesticide residue, even when grown conventionally.
Luckily for us, this year the the EWG found that nearly 70 percent of samples of Clean-15 produce had zero detectable pesticide residue.
This means that these are the safest fruits and vegetables to buy from the more affordable conventional section.In other words, they are both healthy and budget friendly!
Shopping healthy, meal planning and budgeting smart, saves you time, money and sanity.You can read all about it on our blogpost here.
The EWG has annually published an updated version of the guide since 2004.
What foods are on the Dirty Dozen list?
The Dirty Dozen list refers to the 12 fruits and vegetables that were found to contain the highest pesticide levels, even after being washed thoroughly.
The list goes from highest to lowest pesticide concentration.
This year you might be surprised to find out about the fruit that occupies the number one spot again. The ones that are highly likely to contain significant pesticide residue.
Any guesses?
The 2022 Dirty Dozen list actually contains the same 12 foods that were on the previous year, yet one has moved a few slots up this year.
What does it mean?
More reason to purchase organic produce!
What is Clean-15 and Dirty-Dozen? Click To TweetOrganic vs Conventional Produce
Organic produce is expensive, no doubt, yet the EWG recommends shoppers in the US to buy organic versions of the items in the Dirty Dozen list whenever possible.
Why?
Excessive pesticide exposure has been linked to a number of health concerns,including hormone disruption, cancer, and nervous system issues, according to the EPA.
EWG toxicologist Alexis Temkin, suggests choosing organic (especially for foods on the Dirty Dozen list) is most important for pregnant people, babies, and children.
Why eating fresh produce is important?
Irrespective of the Clean-15 Dirty Dozen list, eating fresh produce is important for everyone!
Why?
Even if one does not have access to organic produce, eating plenty of fresh conventional fruits and veggies are important, since their health benefits outweigh the risks associated with pesticide exposure.
When organic produce is an option, it is best to splurge on organic versions of items on the Dirty Dozen list.
What about produce that do not make either list?
Use your own judgement, when it comes to buying produce that do not make either list.
The EWG recommends buying organic, if you can afford it.If you cannot afford organic, try to stick to the Clean-15 list as much as possible.
If not, rest assured that these items did not make the Dirty Dozen list either, which means you are still reaping their nutritional benefits!
The Bottom Line
Now that you are well versed with what fruits and vegetables to shop for, in your grocery shopping trip this spring, we hope you pick the ones that are healthy and safe for you and your family.
Share with us your queries or helpful tips you apply, while shopping for seasonal produce, in the comments section below.
The Clean 15 Dirty Dozen is a list, that advises shoppers on which fruits and vegetables they should buy organic and which are the safest to buy conventional.In other words, it is a guide to pesticides in produce.
This list is perfect! So happy to have it and make better choices when we shop!
Thank you! so glad to hear that our blog post helped you get closer to making healthy choices each day. One step at a time, and before we know it, it will become a habit … a good one at that.Here’s to healthy living and eating!
I do have to buy organic on some of these foods!
Yes, opt for organic whenever you can.If that is not an option, make sure the ones you bring home are free of pesticides before you consume them.
I love eating healthy. Thanks for this guide on picking out clean produce. Love it!
Thank you.We are so glad you found our blogpost helpful and informative. Yes, to eating healthy!
We are looking at eating organic and the benefits. Thank you for sharing.
You are most welcome.Glad to share information that is helpful and informative and play a part in shaping your healthy lifestyle.
Time to get healthy!
Absolutely! Spring is a good time to start, what with all the fresh produce lining up our market aisles.Onward!
Thank you so much for this. I carry this list in my purse and use it all the time, but I haven’t updated it in years. I always try to buy food that’s good for my body, especially organic, when I can.
So glad to hear that our Clean 15 Dirty Dozen list helped you update your old one and be informed about the latest.Healthy food choices are a conscious decision we make every day of our lives and the rewards are numerous. Keep going!
I have never heard of that list before. Thank you so much for sharing that great information. I will definitely check it out. We try to make healthier choices for our family. This will help us.
Thank you. I am so glad to know that you were introduced to this list first through our blogpost and you found it helpful and informative. It is so important to be aware and make healthy choices with our food. Yay! to healthy eating and for happy times with family around the table.
This is really important to bear in mind when shopping and making healthy choices for our families!
Absolutely! Reason why, our list comes handy when you go grocery shopping. Keep an eye out for the Clean 15 list and to choose organic food from the Dirty Dozen list whenever you can.If not, keep an eye out for our next blogpost, which is all about how to clean the foods from the Dirty dozen list, if organic food is not an option. Packed with great info that is meant to help you make healthy choices….stay tuned!
We strive to eat organic as much as possible – taking full advantage of our backyard garden and shopping with organic farmers at our local farmer’s market. It’s so scary to think that lists such as “dirty dozen” even exist. What have we done to our planet???
You are so right about that! What have we done to our planet? The need to share what goes into the food we eat daily, by sharing this list was so important to me, in spreading awareness among our blog readers, about the danger of ignorance on such topics and taking it lightly. More on ‘Dirty Dozen foods’ and how to clean them for our consumption coming up in my next blogpost.Organic food is the best choice, yet expensive when store bought. Growing them in our own backyard, not only ensures healthy food, but also helps develop an interest in gardening as a lifelong hobby. A win-win , both ways! Kudos to you for growing your own. So appreciate you sharing your thoughts.Stay tuned for our next blogpost with great info on similar topics.
Very helpful! I definitely want to avoid pesticides on my produce as much as possible.
Absolutely! Thank you for your kind feedback on our blogpost and letting us know the information we shared was helpful.
Interesting! I had never heard about this list before…will def be checking it out and deciding what to plant in my garden versus buy in store
Thank you! Until a few years ago, I had not heard about the list either.Growing up in a different country we had mostly grown all our vegetables in our backyards and everything was organic.I was shocked to hear about the large amount of pesticides used on fresh produce and the health risks one is subjected to, if we are ignorant.Since then,I have paid close attention to the list that the EWG puts out every year and have inclined towards making wise choices with food.Glad to know you found our blogpost helpful and informative. Please feel free to share with friends and family, you think might enjoy getting this info. By sharing useful information, we can create a healthy world for everyone.