Understanding Pesticide Residue: The Dirty Dozen of 2023

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) analyzes data from the Department of Agriculture to determine which fruits and vegetables contain the most and least pesticide residues each year. The EWG releases two lists: the Dirty Dozen, highlighting the most contaminated produce, and the Clean Fifteen, showcasing the foods with minimal pesticide residue.

The Impact of Pesticides on Health

Pesticides are harmful toxins designed to eliminate living organisms, including insects, plants, and fungi. Unfortunately, many of these substances pose serious risks to human health. Research from various US and global agencies consistently links pesticides to health issues like cancer, hormone disruption, and toxicity to the brain and nervous system. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents to use the EWG Shopper’s Guide when shopping for produce.

Methodology Behind the Lists

To compile this year’s Dirty Dozen list, the EWG analyzed USDA data from 46,569 samples of 46 popular fruits and vegetables. Even after washing and peeling, 75% of the fresh produce still contained pesticide residues. Each type of produce receives a ranking based on the percentage of samples with detectable pesticides.

The EWG employs six evaluation methods to assess contamination levels, including:

1. Percentage of samples with detectable pesticides.
2. Percentage of samples with two or more pesticides.
3. Average number of pesticides found on a single sample.
4. Average concentration of pesticides measured in parts per million.
5. Maximum number of pesticides found on a single sample.
6. Total number of pesticides detected on each crop.

The 2023 Dirty Dozen List

Here is the 2023 Dirty Dozen list:

1. Strawberries (holding the top position for many years)
2. Spinach
3. Kale, collards, and mustard greens
4. Peaches
5. Pears
6. Nectarines
7. Apples
8. Grapes
9. Bell and hot peppers
10. Cherries
11. Blueberries
12. Green beans

Key Findings from the Analysis

The EWG discovered that over 90% of strawberries, apples, cherries, spinach, nectarines, and grapes tested positive for two or more pesticides. In total, they identified 210 different pesticides on the Dirty Dozen items. Each item on the list contained at least one sample with a minimum of 13 different pesticides. Some crops had as many as 23.

Kale, collard greens, mustard greens, and bell/hot peppers had the highest pesticide counts, with a total of 103 and 101 pesticides found, respectively. Notably, the neurotoxic organophosphate insecticide acephate, banned from use on green beans since 2011, appeared in 6% of the samples analyzed.

Looking Ahead

In Part II, we will explore the Clean Fifteen produce, which features items with the lowest pesticide residues. We will continue discussing the health implications of pesticide exposure, focusing on toxicity levels rather than nutritional values. Understanding these risks empowers consumers to make informed choices for their health and well-being.