The Environmental Working Group (EWG) added blackberries and potatoes to its “Dirty Dozen” list of produce containing the most residue of potentially harmful pesticides, as Sarah Fortinsky reports in a news story published by The Hill.

Blackberries and potatoes landed in spots No. 10 and No. 12, respectively, on the updated list released Wednesday. They were added based on new data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which tested blackberries for the first time in 2023.

According to information published by the EWG on its website, “For potatoes, new USDA data revealed that 90% of samples contained chlorpropham, a sprout inhibitor used post-harvest. The European Union banned use of the chemical in 2019 due to health concerns for both farmers and consumers.

“In total, more than 50 different pesticides were found on samples from each of the Dirty Dozen fruits and vegetables, except for cherries. Every commodity except potatoes had on average four or more pesticides detected on individual samples.”

EWG recommends “shoppers seeking fresh produce with low pesticide residues buy organic versions of items on EWG’s Dirty Dozen and either organic or conventional versions of produce on the Clean Fifteen,” said Friedman. “There are also many organic and Clean Fifteen options in the frozen food aisle.”

Spinach ranked No. 1, with more pesticide residue by weight than any other type of produce, and strawberries followed at No. 2. “Kale, Collard, and Mustard Greens” collectively placed No. 3 — and EWG noted that more than half of kale samples were “tainted” by a “possibly cancer-causing pesticide.”

Sources: The Hill / Environmental Working Group (EWG)
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