The 2026 Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen: Your Real Food Shopping Guide

What Australian Families Need to Know About Berries and Chemical Residues. Each year, the Environmental Working Group, or EWG, releases its Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, using the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture residue testing data to rank conventionally grown produce by pesticide contamination.

The guide is designed to help shoppers prioritise which items may be worth buying organic when budget allows. It includes two lists: the Dirty Dozen, which features produce with the highest pesticide contamination, and the Clean Fifteen, which highlights produce with the lowest levels. This is not about fear or avoiding fruit and vegetables. It is about making informed choices. You do not need to buy everything organic, but it can be helpful to know where your organic spend may matter most.

The 2026 Dirty Dozen

According to EWG’s 2026 guide, these are the 12 conventionally grown fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide contamination:

1. Spinach
2. Kale, collard and mustard greens
3. Strawberries
4. Grapes
5. Nectarines
6. Peaches
7. Cherries
8. Apples
9. Blackberries
10. Pears
11. Potatoes
12. Blueberries

What the Report Found

The 2026 findings are significant. EWG reports that 96% of Dirty Dozen samples contained pesticide residues. Across these 12 crops, 203 different pesticides were detected, and PFAS pesticides appeared on 63% of samples. Most Dirty Dozen items had an average of four or more pesticides per sample. EWG also reports that 90% of potato samples contained chlorpropham, a sprout inhibitor banned in the European Union due to health concerns.

And while this data is based on U.S. testing, similar concerns are emerging closer to home. In Australia, recent testing has identified pesticide residues, including dimethoate, on berries, reinforcing that exposure to these chemicals is not just an overseas issue. You can read my full breakdown of what’s happening with Australian berries here.

Potatoes are also a particularly important addition to watch because they are such a widely eaten staple. If your family eats potatoes regularly, this may be one of the more worthwhile items to prioritise for organic, where possible. EWG’s own materials note that potatoes joined the Dirty Dozen in 2026.

Why ThiS MatterS for Children

Children are not simply small adults when it comes to environmental exposures. The American Academy of Paediatrics notes that children eat more food and drink more water relative to their body weight than adults do, and that their developing brain, nervous system, immune system and other organs can be more vulnerable to environmental toxicants, including pesticides.

That matters in real life because many foods commonly packed in children’s lunchboxes appear on this year’s Dirty Dozen, including strawberries, grapes, apples and blueberries. This does not mean parents should panic or avoid these foods. It simply means that, if you are deciding where to focus your organic budget, those everyday lunchbox staples may be worth prioritising first.

The SpinaCh ISSue

Spinach ranked number one again. EWG reports that conventional spinach had more pesticide residues by weight than any other produce item tested. On average, seven pesticides were found on conventional spinach samples, with up to 19 different pesticides or breakdown products on a single sample. Seventy-six per cent of samples contained permethrin, a neurotoxic insecticide that EWG says is not permitted for use on food crops in Europe.

EWG also cites research linking lower-level exposure to permethrin-type insecticides with neurological effects in children, including one study in which children with detectable urinary permethrin residues were twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD as those with undetectable levels. That study shows an association, not proof of causation.

And Then There iS PFAS

One of the newer concerns highlighted in the 2026 guide is PFAS pesticides. EWG reports that the most frequently detected pesticide across all fruits and vegetables was fludioxonil, a PFAS fungicide, and that three of the 10 most commonly detected pesticides met the internationally recognised definition of PFAS. Because PFAS chemicals are highly persistent in the environment and may accumulate over time, this is an area many parents will understandably want to watch closely.

The 2026 Clean Fifteen

The good news is that many conventionally grown fruits and vegetables tested much lower for pesticide residues.

EWG’s 2026 Clean Fifteen includes:

1. Pineapples
2. Sweet corn
3. Avocados
4. Papaya
5. Onion
6. Frozen sweet peas
7. Asparagus
8. Cabbage
9. Cauliflower
10. Watermelon
11. Mangoes
12. Bananas
13. Carrots
14. Mushrooms
15. Kiwi

EWG reports that nearly 60% of Clean Fifteen samples had no detectable pesticide residues, and only 16% had residues of two or more pesticides.

These are often the produce items that families feel more comfortable buying conventionally if organic is not realistic. Avocados, bananas, mangoes, watermelon and kiwi are especially useful examples because they are family-friendly, widely available and generally well accepted by children.

Children are particularly vulnerable to pesticides due to their size and developing systems. Even low-level, repeated exposure to neurotoxic chemicals like dimethoate and thiometon can be harmful over time, with possible links to hormone disruption, behavioural issues, and long-term neurological effects. Although regulators say the levels found are unlikely to pose an “immediate risk,” they also acknowledge the need for review and updated safeguards, especially for high-consumption foods like berries.

How to Shop Smarter (A PraCtical Guide)

• You do not need a perfect trolley — focus on making smarter, more informed choices
• Prioritise the top Dirty Dozen items your family eats most often, especially spinach, strawberries, grapes, leafy greens and nectarines — these are the most worthwhile to buy organic
• Use the Clean Fifteen to save money — foods like avocado, banana, mango, pineapple and watermelon are lower in pesticide residues and can be bought conventional
• Choose organic frozen produce where possible — especially berries and spinach — as it is often more affordable, just as nutritious and helps reduce waste
• Always wash fresh produce thoroughly and scrub where appropriate, but be aware that washing does not remove all pesticide residues
• Focus on frequency over perfection — foods your child eats daily matter more than those eaten occasionally when deciding where to prioritise organic
• Keep perspective — fruit and vegetables remain essential for health, and this guide is about reducing exposure, not creating stress or restriction

The Bottom Line

This is what real food shopping is all about. Not fear, not perfection, and not guilt, just better information, better questions, and small, consistent choices that add up over time. Food quality matters. Ingredient quality matters. And when it comes to children, those everyday choices matter even more, because the foods they eat most often shape their exposure over time. You do not need to overhaul everything overnight. Start with what your family eats most, make the swaps that feel realistic, and build from there. Because in the end, it is not what your child eats occasionally that matters most — it is what they eat every day. If you want to feel more confident navigating the supermarket, understanding food labels, and knowing how to spot the Best, Better, Okay, Limit and Avoid options for your family, you can explore The Unfussy Eaters Club, where I share simple, practical strategies for every stage and every budget.