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Writer's pictureRebecca Hills
Mar 291 min read

Choosing organic foods: The 'Dirty Dozen' and 'Clean Fifteen'

Updated: Jun 3


Many of us strive to eat organic food – grown without man-made fertilisers, pesticides; growth regulators and livestock feed additives – but are held back by higher costs.


The 'Dirty Dozen' and 'Clean Fifteen' helps us to choose which foods to prioritise – the Dirty Dozen are those that are most contaminated with pesticides and so should be bought organic if possible, and the Clean Fifteen are those with the least amounts of pesticide residues and therefore you can be a bit more relaxed about.


Dirty Dozen

  1. Strawberries

  2. Spinach

  3. Kale, collard and mustard greens

  4. Grapes

  5. Peaches

  6. Pears

  7. Nectarines

  8. Apples

  9. Bell and hot peppers

  10. Cherries

  11. Blueberries

  12. Green beans


Clean Fifteen

  1. Avocados

  2. Sweetcorn

  3. Pineapple

  4. Onion

  5. Papaya

  6. Peas (frozen)

  7. Asparagus

  8. Honeydew melon

  9. Kiwi

  10. Cabbage

  11. Watermelon

  12. Mushroom

  13. Mango

  14. Sweet potato

  15. Carrots


Source: Environmental Working Group, www.ewg.org


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