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Dirty Dozen: These fruits, vegetables have the most pesticides

The annual list of the 'dirtiest' items in the produce aisle ranks the items you might want to avoid

Dirty Dozen: These fruits, vegetables have the most pesticides

The annual list of the 'dirtiest' items in the produce aisle ranks the items you might want to avoid

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Dirty Dozen: These fruits, vegetables have the most pesticides

The annual list of the 'dirtiest' items in the produce aisle ranks the items you might want to avoid

Government testing found that nearly 70 percent of sampled produce was contaminated with pesticide residue, according to a new report. Every year, the Environmental Working Group looks at the results of U.S. Department of Agriculture testing and ranks the "dirtiest" and "cleanest" items in the produce aisle. "The USDA found a total of 178 different pesticides and pesticide breakdown products on the thousands of produce samples it analyzed," EWG said. "The pesticides persisted on fruits and vegetables even when they were washed and, in some cases, peeled." EWG's "Dirty Dozen" list for 2017: StrawberriesSpinachNectarinesApplesPeachesCeleryGrapesPearsCherriesTomatoesSweet bell peppersPotatoes At least one pesticide was found on 98 percent of the tested strawberries, spinach, peaches, nectarines, cherries and apples. "Clean Fifteen" list for 2017: Sweet cornAvocadosPineapplesCabbageOnionsFrozen sweet peasPapayasAsparagusMangoesEggplantHoneydew melonKiwisCantaloupeCauliflowerGrapefruit

Government testing found that nearly 70 percent of sampled produce was contaminated with pesticide residue, according to a new report.

Every year, the Environmental Working Group looks at the results of U.S. Department of Agriculture testing and ranks the "dirtiest" and "cleanest" items in the produce aisle.

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"The USDA found a total of 178 different pesticides and pesticide breakdown products on the thousands of produce samples it analyzed," EWG said. "The pesticides persisted on fruits and vegetables even when they were washed and, in some cases, peeled."

EWG's "Dirty Dozen" list for 2017:

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

At least one pesticide was found on 98 percent of the tested strawberries, spinach, peaches, nectarines, cherries and apples.

"Clean Fifteen" list for 2017:

  1. Sweet corn
  2. Avocados
  3. Pineapples
  4. Cabbage
  5. Onions
  6. Frozen sweet peas
  7. Papayas
  8. Asparagus
  9. Mangoes
  10. Eggplant
  11. Honeydew melon
  12. Kiwis
  13. Cantaloupe
  14. Cauliflower
  15. Grapefruit