EWG report: Spinach leads the “Polluted Twelve,” pineapple tops the “Clean Fifteen”

Based on the latest data, spinach topped the “Dirty Dozen” list: according to the EWG’s assessment, it was here that the most residues were found relative to its weight, with on average several active ingredients at once.

According to the EWG’s summary, on the 2026 “Dirty Dozen” list, spinach is followed by kale, kale, chard and mustard greens, then strawberries, grapes, nectarines, peaches, cherries, apples, blackberries, pears, potatoes and blueberries.

The “Clean Fifteen” list, on the other hand, includes the produce that the EWG measured to have the lowest levels of residues. Pineapple tops the list, followed by sweet corn, avocado, papaya, and onions; the low-risk items listed include asparagus, cabbage, and bananas, among others.

In the residue issue, PFAS compounds (colloquially “forever chemicals”), which can bind to certain pesticides, are receiving increasing attention. The EWG also identified PFAS residues in an analysis of conventional crops in California, and according to the Guardian, several fruits (such as strawberries, grapes, and stone fruits) had high levels in the samples tested.