Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen: What Pesticide Data Means for You
How to read produce pesticide rankings without giving up on vegetables.
Written by Ration Editorial Team · Updated July 18, 2026
Key takeaways
- The "Dirty Dozen" ranks produce by pesticide residue; the "Clean Fifteen" are lowest.
- Measured residues on conventional produce are almost always far below safety limits.
- The health benefit of eating produce outweighs residue risk; buy organic for high-residue items if budget allows.
What the lists are
Each year advocacy groups rank fruits and vegetables by pesticide residue. The database tracks a pesticide-load tier per food; these carry the highest measured load:
Keep it in perspective
Residues on conventional produce are typically a small fraction of established safety thresholds.[1] Reviews find the benefit of eating more produce far outweighs the theoretical risk from residues, and washing removes a meaningful share.[2]
Lowest-residue produce
Foods with thick peels or low measured residue make up the low-load list:
Bottom line
Do not let residue rankings scare you off vegetables. If budget is limited, spend organic dollars on the highest-load items and eat conventional for the rest.