96 Percent of ‘Dirty Dozen’ US Produce Samples Contain Pesticides: Report

Spinach was listed as the produce most contaminated with pesticides, followed by kale, collard, and mustard greens.

Agricultural laborers spray against insects and weeds inside the orchards of a fruit farm in Mesa, Calif., on March 27, 2020. Brent Stirton/Getty Images

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) released the “Dirty Dozen” list, detailing 12 fruits and vegetables sold in the United States with high pesticide content, which can potentially result in harms such as cancer, nervous system toxicity, and hormone disruption, the group said in a March 26 post on Facebook.

The Dirty Dozen list is part of EWG’s 2026 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce guide, which analyzes data from the Department of Agriculture’s tests of 47 fruits and vegetables, EWG said in a March 24 statement.