Dirty Dozen 2021: View the list of foods with the most and least pesticides

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN

Updated 9:51 AM ET, Wed March 17, 2021

Strawberries topped the<strong> </strong>Environmental Working Group's Dirty Dozen<strong> </strong>list in 2021 for the sixth year in a row. The most recent report states they are the fresh produce most likely to remain contaminated with pesticide residues, even after being washed. Testing found 90% of strawberries had at least one pesticide, while 30% had residues of 10 or more pesticides.
Photos: The 2021 'Dirty Dozen' list of pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables
Strawberries – Strawberries topped the Environmental Working Group's Dirty Dozen list in 2021 for the sixth year in a row. The most recent report states they are the fresh produce most likely to remain contaminated with pesticide residues, even after being washed. Testing found 90% of strawberries had at least one pesticide, while 30% had residues of 10 or more pesticides.
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Conventionally grown spinach, in the second spot again this year, has more pesticide residues by weight than all other produce tested, "with three-fourths of samples tested contaminated with a neurotoxic bug killer banned from use on food crops in Europe," EWG said.
Photos: The 2021 'Dirty Dozen' list of pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables
Spinach – Conventionally grown spinach, in the second spot again this year, has more pesticide residues by weight than all other produce tested, "with three-fourths of samples tested contaminated with a neurotoxic bug killer banned from use on food crops in Europe," EWG said.
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Kale was joined in third place by collard and mustard greens, which most commonly tested positive for DCPA, which the US Environmental Protection Agency classified as a <a href="http://npic.orst.edu/chemicals_evaluated.pdf" target="_blank">possible carcinogen</a> in 1995.
Photos: The 2021 'Dirty Dozen' list of pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables
Kale – Kale was joined in third place by collard and mustard greens, which most commonly tested positive for DCPA, which the US Environmental Protection Agency classified as a possible carcinogen in 1995.
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Nectarines are fourth on the list this year. More than 90% of samples of strawberries, apples, cherries, spinach, nectarines and leafy greens tested positive for residues of two or more pesticides.
Photos: The 2021 'Dirty Dozen' list of pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables
Nectarines – Nectarines are fourth on the list this year. More than 90% of samples of strawberries, apples, cherries, spinach, nectarines and leafy greens tested positive for residues of two or more pesticides.
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Apples are fifth this year, the EWG said. Apples are typically treated with diphenylamine, a chemical treatment used to prevent brown or black patches. Diphenylamine is banned in Europe due to a link to stomach and esophageal cancers.
Photos: The 2021 'Dirty Dozen' list of pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables
Apples – Apples are fifth this year, the EWG said. Apples are typically treated with diphenylamine, a chemical treatment used to prevent brown or black patches. Diphenylamine is banned in Europe due to a link to stomach and esophageal cancers.
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