EWG’s 2025 Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen

Introduction
Each year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) publishes its Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists — two sides of a single guide designed to help consumers understand which fruits and vegetables are most, and least, likely to carry pesticide residues. The 2025 update adds a new layer: toxicity in addition to frequency and concentration of residues.

But since much of the data is U.S.-based, many Australians wonder: Does this matter at home? And how should we act on it?

This post breaks down the 2025 lists, explains how pesticide regulation works in Australia, and gives practical advice for choosing organic vs conventional produce wisely.

What the 2025 Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen Include

What are they?

Dirty Dozen: The 12 fruits and vegetables with the highest overall pesticide residue load. The 2025 list is based on ~53,000 samples of 47 produce types, testing for presence, number, concentration, and toxicity of pesticide residues.
Clean Fifteen: Those 15 produce items found to have the lowest levels of pesticide residues under the same framework.

Dirty Dozen (2025)

Here are the produce types ranked as highest in pesticide residues, per EWG’s analysis:

Spinach
Strawberries
Kale, collard & mustard greens
Grapes
Peaches
Cherries
Nectarines
Pears
Apples
Blackberries
Blueberries
Potatoes

Clean Fifteen (2025)

Produce items least likely to carry pesticide residues:

Pineapple
Sweet corn (fresh & frozen)
Avocados
Papaya
Onions
Sweet peas (frozen)
Asparagus
Cabbage
Watermelon
Cauliflower
Bananas
Mangoes
Carrots
Mushrooms
Kiwi

How Are These Lists Made?

EWG uses a combination of four key metrics for each produce item: frequency of pesticide detection, number of different pesticides found, average concentration, and the toxicity of those pesticides. These are normalised and combined into a total score. The highest 12 scores become the Dirty Dozen; the lowest 15, the Clean Fifteen.

Regulation & Relevance in Australia

To understand whether the EWG’s U.S.-based findings matter here, it’s crucial to see what systems Australia has in place.

Pesticide residue limits & monitoring

APVMA (Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority) sets Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for agricultural chemicals (including pesticides) used on produce. These are designed to ensure that, when applied according to regulations (including withholding periods, correct dosages, etc.), the residues remaining at harvest are unlikely to pose risk.
FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) also plays a role in food safety regarding pesticide residues. Australian produce sold domestically and imported must comply with the relevant standards.
Routine monitoring is done via programs like the National Residue Survey, and by state health departments (e.g. in WA: the WA Food Monitoring Program) to assess how much pesticide residue is present in retail produce and whether it exceeds legal limits.

What the data shows

Most produce in Australia is found to comply with MRLs. Studies show that the residue levels are “very low” and within safety margins.
However, “compliance” does not necessarily mean “no residue” — many residues, while legal, still exist. Some produce might absorb more, some pesticides are more persistent, and imported produce can introduce different pesticide practices. Also, not all chemicals are always tested for, and frequency/scale of monitoring vs U.S. is different.

Should Australians Pay Attention to the Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen?

In short: yes, but with context.

The EWG’s lists are a useful guide, especially if you care about minimising pesticide exposure, want to shop more consciously, or stretch your organic budget.
The lists highlight fruits & vegetables that tend to accumulate more pesticide residue, which may also be relevant in Australia, since many of the same crops are grown or imported.
But remember: legal limit (MRL) ≠ zero residue; low-level exposure is often allowed, with safety margins. Just because a fruit is on the Dirty Dozen doesn’t mean it’s unsafe under Australian standards — but it may mean that if you have the option, organic or lower-pesticide versions might be better.

Practical Tips: How to Use This Information

Here are steps for making smart choices without completely going organic (unless you want to):

Prioritise organic for produce on the Dirty Dozen
If your budget is limited, save organic invest-ments for spinach, strawberries, kale/collards, grapes, peaches, apples, etc. These tend to have higher residue loads.
Use the Clean Fifteen as safer conventional options
For items like pineapples, avocados, onions, watermelon, mangoes, carrots, bananas etc., conventional versions may be fairly safe under Australian practices and monitoring.
Wash produce thoroughly — baking soda works best
Research from the University of Massachusetts found that a solution of 1 teaspoon of baking soda in 2 cups of water removed far more pesticide residues from apples than plain water or bleach solution. Soaking produce for 12–15 minutes in this solution, followed by rinsing, is highly effective.
Peel when possible
For produce with edible skins prone to residue, peeling or removing external layers (if it makes sense nutritionally) can lower exposure.
Buy local & seasonal
Local growers may use fewer post-harvest chemicals, or shorter storage/shipping times. Seasonal produce often needs fewer interventions.
Know your labels & certifications
Organic certification in Australia (ACO etc.) means stricter controls on pesticide use; certified organic often but not always better — check for local organic produce too.

Risks & Misconceptions

Residues vs Risk: Detecting a pesticide residue doesn’t always mean a health risk. Many residues are far below levels considered harmful by regulatory bodies.
Fear can backfire: Some people reduce fruit/vegetable intake when they see such lists, which can harm nutrition more than low-level pesticide exposure.
Variation is huge: Between farms, growing methods, pesticide use, post-harvest treatment, storage etc., so the same fruit in the Dirty Dozen list might have much lower residue if grown organically or under specific practices.

Conclusion

The 2025 Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen are helpful tools, especially for prioritising when buying organic. For Australians, while our regulatory systems generally ensure safety and set legal limits, there’s value in being informed and thoughtful.

Bottom line: When it comes to produce on the Dirty Dozen list, do your best to buy organic. For the Clean Fifteen, conventional is often acceptable. Either way, eating more fruits and vegetables remains one of the best things you can do for health.

Sources & Further Reading