Spinach, strawberries, and grapes lead this year's "Dirty Dozen" pesticide list

Spinach, grapes, and strawberries carry the highest levels of potentially harmful pesticide residues among commonly eaten produce, according to the Environmental Working Group's 2025 "Dirty Dozen" report. The health advocacy organization has published the annual ranking every year since 2004.

Spinach took the top spot, carrying more pesticide residue by weight than any other item on the list. Rounding it out: nectarines, peaches, cherries, apples, blackberries, pears, potatoes, and blueberries.

This year's report flagged a new concern. For the first time, more than 60 percent of all Dirty Dozen samples tested positive for pesticides that also contain PFAS, commonly called "forever chemicals." The name comes from their molecular structure, which can take years, decades, or even centuries to fully break down, allowing them to accumulate in soil, water, and the human body over time.