EWG’s 2025 Clear 15 and Soiled Dozen: Save These Lists

June 18, 2025

Image of blackberries, cherries, and other berries set on a farmer's market table. — EWG launched their Clear 15 and Soiled Dozen lists for the 12 months, and blackberries made the Soiled Dozen record.Credit score: Unsplash Steve Lieman

It’s extra essential than ever to buy natural blackberries and candy potatoes, in line with new information aggregated by the Environmental Working Group. These two frequent produce objects be a part of ten others on the EWG’s Soiled Dozen record of 2025.

What Are the Clear 15 and Soiled Dozen?

Over three-quarters of standard produce within the U.S. accommodates residues of probably dangerous pesticides, together with carcinogenic and neurotoxic substances. Yearly since 1999, EWG has taken benefit of Division of Agriculture information on greater than 53,000 samples of 47 vegetables and fruit to publish its Soiled Dozen record.

Image of a tractor spraying pesticides over a field of crops which may be included on the Dirty Dozen list. — *The EWG’s Clear 15 Soiled Dozen lists assist separate produce with essentially the most pesticide residues from these with the least.* – Credit score: Unsplash Getty Pictures

The Soiled Dozen options the 12 objects with essentially the most traces of pesticides on the American market. Greater than 90% of samples of standard produce on this 12 months’s Soiled Dozen contained pesticide residue. The group concurrently publishes a Clear Fifteen, an inventory of 15 standard or non-organic produce objects least more likely to include lethal pesticides. Collectively, these lists make up the EWG’s Shopper’s Information.

“EWG’s Shopper’s Information is a software to tell customers and assist them with their produce purchasing decisions, with the purpose of everybody consuming extra vegetables and fruit,” mentioned EWG Vice President for Science, Alexis Temkin, Ph.D. “For individuals seeking to cut back pesticide publicity, shopping for from the Clear Fifteen is a good place to begin.”

A New Methodology for Extra Readability

This 12 months, the EWG up to date its methodology: The record now displays not simply the frequency and concentrations of pesticides, but additionally their toxicity.

“By incorporating pesticide toxicity into our rankings, we give buyers a extra full image of what’s on their produce,” mentioned Varun Subramaniam, M.S., EWG affiliate scientist. “This implies we’re not solely flagging produce with essentially the most pesticides, we’re additionally highlighting these with potential well being hazards.”

Two Soiled Dozen Newcomers

Image of a plate of sliced and roasted sweet potatoes dusted with cinnamon. — *Candy potatoes are a newcomer to EWG’s Soiled Dozen record this 12 months.* – Credit score: Unsplash Ella Olsson

Two objects — blackberries and potatoes — be a part of this 12 months’s Soiled Dozen for the primary time, however it’s not essentially resulting from a sudden uptick in pesticide use. The USDA first examined blackberries in 2023, and that is the primary 12 months that information for this antioxidant-rich berry has been out there.

Checks confirmed {that a} whopping 93% of blackberry samples had pesticide residue. These included cypermethrin¹, which has been recognized as a potential human carcinogen by the EPA and has been proven to disrupt thyroid hormones². It was detected on over half of blackberries examined. If you happen to’re pondering of constructing a beautiful blackberry crisp or a golden beet salad with blackberries, contemplate investing in natural to attempt to decrease your consumption of meals with pesticides.

Candy potatoes additionally joined the record resulting from new information from the USDA, which confirmed that 90% of samples examined optimistic for chlorpropham, a sprout inhibitor used post-harvest. Chlorpropham has been linked with vascular irregularities and basic developmental toxicity³; it has been banned within the European Union since 2019.

Different Produce Objects on the Soiled Dozen Listing

Image of fresh organic produce items, several of which made EWG's Clean 15 or Dirty Dozen lists of 2025. — *EWG’s Soiled Dozen record additionally included objects like peaches, cherries, and apples.* – Credit score: Unsplash Shelley Pauls

Apples could not preserve the physician away in the event that they’re conventionally farmed: 60 % of apples have been discovered to be contaminated with diphenylamine, a chemical used to stop their skins from creating darkish patches in chilly storage. Some proof exhibits that this substance may very well be carcinogenic⁴.

Among the worst offenders on the Soiled Dozen record have been leafy greens like kale, collard, and mustard greens. However of all of the leafy greens, spinach was the dirtiest, with extra pesticide residues by weight than another sort of produce.

One in all these pesticides is permethrin, a neurotoxic insecticide that has been banned in Europe since 2000. At excessive doses, permethrin has been discovered to overwhelm the nervous system and trigger tremors and seizures⁵. However even small quantities of permethrin might result in neurological problems. In a single 2015 research in Environmental Well being, youngsters with permethrin residues of their urine have been twice as more likely to be recognized with ADHD ⁶.

The Soiled Dozen record is rounded out with potatoes, pears, nectarines, cherries, peaches, grapes, and strawberries.

The Most secure Produce to Eat

So, is natural actually higher? EWG’s Soiled Dozen is proof that there are clear issues related to some standard produce. And the advantages of natural produce embody don’t cease at lowered pesticide publicity. Research have proven that consuming natural produce could result in higher cognitive perform⁷, lowered most cancers threat⁸, and better consumption of important nutritional vitamins and minerals like iron, magnesium, and vitamin C.

Nonetheless, we perceive that there are numerous elements that will make standard a greater possibility for you, together with value and availability. If you happen to’re shopping for standard produce, the Clear Fifteen is the best way to go. EWG’s Clear 15 is an inventory of merchandise which have considerably decrease general toxicity than objects on the Soiled Dozen record, even when farmed conventionally.

Newcomers to the EWG’s Clear 15 embody bananas and cauliflower. This stuff be a part of frequent fliers like candy corn, avocados, papaya, onion, frozen peas, asparagus, cabbage, watermelon, mangoes, carrots, mushrooms, kiwi and pineapple. If you happen to’re fearful about toxicity however are purchasing for conventionally farmed produce, sticking to this EWG record is a good place to begin.

Sources: