The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has released their updated 2018 “Clean Fifteen” and “Dirty Dozen” lists.

These lists track which non-organic produce have been found to be relatively free of pesticides and other chemicals, and which have been found to have the most pesticide residues, respectively.

The Dirty Dozen

  1. Strawberries
  2. Spinach
  3. Nectarines
  4. Apples
  5. Grapes
  6. Peaches
  7. Cherries
  8. Pears
  9. Tomatoes
  10. Celery
  11. Potatoes
  12. Sweet bell peppers

According to the EWG, this year’s report found at least one pesticide in nearly 70 percent of non-organic samples. And strawberries, which came in number one on the list (meaning they’re the worst) were found to have 22 different pesticide residues per single strawberry!

The Clean Fifteen

  1. Avocados
  2. Sweet Corn
  3. Pineapples
  4. Cabbages
  5. Onions
  6. Frozen Sweet Peas
  7. Papayas
  8. Asparagus
  9. Mangoes
  10. Eggplants
  11. Honeydew Melons
  12. Kiwis
  13. Cantaloupes
  14. Cauliflower
  15. Broccoli

It’s worth noting that, in the United States, some sweet corn and papaya is produced from genetically modified seeds. To avoid these GMOs, purchase organic.

These lists, which the EWG diligently produces every year, are a great guide for Paleo-minded shoppers who are unable to purchase organic, and they’re a (perhaps scary) indicator of how much work we have left to do to clean up our food system.

Print and share the handy infographic below as a guide when shopping for produce.