The Environmental Working Group, an activist organization, has circulated the Dirty Dozen™ list based on 2022 assays for pesticides in vegetables and fruit.

The Environmental Working Group published an annual Shoppers’ Guide to Pesticides in Produce that contains the twelve most contaminated products and the fifteen that are least likely to have pesticide revenues.

In commenting on the ‘Dirty Dozen” report, Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, CEO of the Produce for a Better Health Foundation stated, “In today’s unprecedented world where health, immunity and well-being are extremely relevant, it is more important than ever for consumers to simply eat more fruits and vegetables – no matter how they are grown or packaged. Fear-based messaging around pesticide levels is counterproductive during an already anxiety-ridden time," The Alliance for Food and Farming released a statement criticizing the “Dirty” Dozen” list that was characterized as, “scientifically unsupportable, hurting consumers.”

The guides produced by the Environmental Working Group generally evoke concern and anxiety among consumers noting the wide range of pesticides which may be present.  In almost all cases, residues are below permitted or biologically significant levels and are essentially inconsequential to health.  The outstanding exception is chlorpyrifos, a neurotoxic compound that effectively has no established non-effect level and should be eliminated from application on all food crops.