2022 Dirty Dozen and Clean 15

While the prevalence of 'organic is best' when trying to pick out foods is there, many of us are unaware of the types of produce to which this should apply. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that sheds light on issues ranging from agricultural practices to ordinary household products. Each year, the EWG releases a ranking of produce we eat every day, which can help us decide when we should stick to organic! Referred to as the “Dirty Dozen” and “Clean 15,” EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™ bases its rankings off of extensive tests performed by the U.S.D.A. and the F.D.A. The “Dirty Dozen” refers to the top 12 foods for which pesticides are used and leave residue, while the “Clean 15” refers to the foods with the least use and residue. Many of the common produce we see in our daily lives fall more towards the middle of the list, and, in these cases, discretion is best. It is always beneficial to research the foods we are eating and how they are produced, regardless of labels! The “Dirty Dozen” and “Clean 15” provide consumers with ease and peace of mind, and they are updated annually for changing relevance. We thought you’d find this helpful — here are the 2022 lists…