The 2025 Dirty Dozen List Is Out—Here’s What a Dietitian Has to Say

The Environmental Working Group just released its 2025 Dirty Dozen list of foods that they recommend you buy organic. The group has released the report annually since 1995, and it’s intended to inform consumers about produce items with the most pesticide residue. 

With new fruits and vegetables identified as potentially unsafe each year, it can be difficult to know what to prioritize—and it’s worth noting that the EWG lists the 12 fruits and vegetables with the most pesticide residue, which doesn’t necessarily mean that the residue exceeds safe levels. We asked dietitians to chime in on each item in order to help you plan your shopping list and budget.

This year’s list features fruits and vegetables that may be part of your regular diet, including potatoes, berries and a few leafy greens. While washing produce can often significantly reduce pesticide residues, chemicals can also make their way into the flesh of many fruits and vegetables, so knowing which ones are more susceptible is key to making better choices.

Strawberries

Strawberries consistently appear at the top of the Dirty Dozen lists since the vulnerable crop requires several types of pesticides in order to protect against pests and disease. And because strawberries have a thin skin, it’s easier for pesticides to penetrate their flesh, making them a fruit you might want to consider buying organic. If you plan to stick with the non-organic variety, just make sure you wash them well—a salad spinner could actually help you with that.

Kale, Collard and Mustard Greens

According to the EWG, “leafy greens such as kale, collards and mustard greens had detectable levels of more than five different pesticides, with up to 21 different pesticides on a single sample,” including the herbicide dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA) that the Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing after the identification of associated health risks. Still, these greens provide necessary fiber, vitamins and minerals essential for a healthy diet, which can leave you wondering if the benefits outweigh the risks.

“Rather than suggesting someone only buy organic leafy greens, I would encourage folks to buy the leafy greens that align with their budgets, preferences and needs,” shares Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, senior nutrition editor at EatingWell. “If you feel strongly about avoiding pesticides and organic is accessible for you, that’s great. But if it’s not, there is much stronger evidence around the health benefits of regularly consuming any kind of leafy greens (including frozen) than there is evidence around the health effects of pesticide residues.”

Grapes

Though grapes don’t grow as low to the ground as many other types of berries do, their thin skins make them equally susceptible to absorbing the pesticides that they’re sprayed with—which shouldn’t be confused with the white film found on both conventionally and organically grown grapes. This film is called bloom, and it’s a waxy substance produced by the grape to help prevent moisture loss and decay. But whether you buy organic or not, snacking on grapes offers plenty of health benefits, and we also enjoy them in an ice-cold smoothie from time to time.

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Peaches

The EWG determined that a single peach sample could have traces of up to 19 different pesticides, including fungicides and insecticides that can be harmful to the nervous systems of insects, animals and humans. Washing them thoroughly to remove residues from the delicate skins is essential for reducing the amount of pesticides consumed, but we suggest you resist the urge to peel your peaches.

“The skin of a peach is totally edible and does not need to be removed. In fact, like many other fruits and vegetables, the skins of peaches contain fiber, a nutrient that most Americans aren’t consuming enough of,” adds Ball. “There is a lot of strong research around how fiber can benefit your heart, gut, brain and overall health. But if you feel concerned about pesticide residue and want to remove the skin, just be sure to include more fiber in other areas of your diet to ensure you’re meeting your needs.”

Cherries

Using a vinegar solution to clean cherries before eating can help remove a large amount of the pesticides they are sprayed with. With your cherries all set to be enjoyed, we recommend you use them in recipes like our Black Forest Cake-Inspired Overnight Oats.

Nectarines

Like their fuzzy peach relatives, nectarines require heavy pesticides to help prevent damage from insects and disease. In fact, the EWG found that nearly 100% of conventionally grown nectarine samples contained two or more pesticides, both on the skins and within the flesh, which makes them another fruit that is perhaps best purchased organic.

“One medium nectarine contains about 10% of your daily fiber needs, and is rich in vitamin C, vitamin A and potassium. These nutrients support important things like skin health, immune health and heart health,” says Ball. “Personally, I would encourage people to eat nectarines if they enjoy them regardless of if they are organic or conventional.”

Pears

Pears are among the most pesticide-contaminated fruits on this year’s list. And according to EWG analysis, the amount of pesticides found on the fruit has skyrocketed since 2010, when just 3% of samples contained five or more pesticides—that number has now reached over 60%. But that doesn’t mean you need to panic about buying organic.

“The context this statistic is missing is how much of the pesticide residue was on the fruits compared to the amount that is considered safe and tolerated by the EPA, FDA and USDA. If the amount of pesticide residue is so low that it’s safe for human consumption, this is more of a reflection of agriculture practices than human health risk,” clarifies Ball. “There are several reasons why more farmers may need to use pesticides than previously—including changing growing conditions and new pests or crop diseases that can come with that. However, if the levels they are using are within safe limits, that should not be a major cause for concern.” 

Apples

Because apples are often stored in a cold environment for several weeks before they’re sold, conventional crops are sprayed with chemicals used to prevent the skin from bruising right after harvest. While the EWG recently reported that residues are lower than just a couple of years ago, more than 50% of apples still have chemical residues.

Blackberries

The EWG noted that the Department of Agriculture first tested blackberries for pesticides in 2023. A total of 48 chemicals were found across all types of non-organic samples, including a possible human carcinogen. So, it’s no surprise that blackberries have been added to the 2025 Dirty Dozen. While the data is alarming, blackberries provide essential nutrients that support the immune system and the heart, among other benefits.

Potatoes

Potatoes (along with tomatoes) top the lists of the most consumed produce in the world, and according to the EWG, the starchy tubers contain high traces of chlorpropham, a pesticide used to help prevent sprouting during storage. Still, conventional potatoes will still offer lots of tasty benefits. Potatoes offer resistant starch, which is good for your gut and can make you feel satisfied longer after eating.

Spinach

This isn’t the first time that the EWG noted that spinach has more pesticide residues by weight than any other type of produce. And the USDA’s most recent 2016 samples showed a sharp increase in chemical residue found on the lightweight leafy greens, when compared to 2008 and 2009 data. The spinach you find in the store is often already washed—and you likely don’t need to rinse it again, Ball says.

“Washing ready-to-eat or triple-washed bagged spinach can increase the risk of cross contamination with other foods in your kitchen. Additionally, washing bagged spinach in advance of using it can introduce moisture, which can make the spinach go bad faster,” adds Ball. “For this reason, I would not recommend washing ready-to-eat bagged spinach far in advance of preparing it. If you want to rinse it before using, make sure to do that right before you plan to cook or consume it.”

Blueberries

Blueberries are among the four berries included on this year’s list. Like strawberries, grapes and blackberries, these small fruits have thin skins that easily absorb the pesticides conventional farmers use to ward off insects and disease. And the EWG estimates that berries may include as many as 17 types of pesticide residues, based on 2014 data that detected 13 types. Just know that the EPA does regularly check the pesticide levels of produce, and they can take action to remove fruits and vegetables from the market if they have unsafe levels of pesticide residue.

Our Expert Take

If you’re choosing to avoid pesticide exposure, we understand. But don’t let the cost of buying organic prohibit you from enjoying the benefits of these fruits and veggies, which are just as nutritious when you buy conventionally—and that includes fresh, canned and frozen varieties.

“In a time when people may feel like their food budgets are stretched with rising prices, I would not encourage people to avoid consuming nourishing produce just because it’s not organic,” shares Ball. “Instead, I would encourage people to aim to consume a greater variety of produce, and get connected to local growers when possible. This can help foster healthier individuals and a healthier food system—rather than demonizing specific fruits and vegetables.”