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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Grapes came in sixth on the list. Since 2004, EWG has used government testing data to report on pesticide levels.
Photos: The 2021 'Dirty Dozen' list of pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables
Grapes – Grapes came in sixth on the list. Since 2004, EWG has used government testing data to report on pesticide levels.
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Cherries are eighth on the list this year. The <a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/2019PDPAnnualSummary.pdf" target="_blank">Pesticide Data Program</a> reports issued by the US Department of Agriculture indicated that when pesticide residues are found on foods, they are nearly always at levels below the human tolerance limits set by the agency.
Photos: The 2021 'Dirty Dozen' list of pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables
Cherries – Cherries are eighth on the list this year. The Pesticide Data Program reports issued by the US Department of Agriculture indicated that when pesticide residues are found on foods, they are nearly always at levels below the human tolerance limits set by the agency.
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