When consuming fresh fruits and vegetables in the United States, it's important to be aware of the presence of pesticides. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a significant 75% of sampled non-organic fresh produce items in 2024 contained pesticides. This data was part of the EWG's annual report on pesticides in produce, which serves as a consumer guide.
The report was based on tests of over 47,000 samples of 46 fruits and vegetables conducted by the Department of Agriculture and U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The EWG compiled a Dirty Dozen list of the most contaminated produce items, including strawberries, spinach, kale, grapes, peaches, apples, and more.
