Food Health - The Dirty Dozen and
Clean Fifteen
The percentages shown above are the number of samples that have been tested by the
PAN and the EWG that have been shown to contain pesticides
The dirty dozen and the clean fifteen are a guide for you to eat more healthily and avoid
harmful pesticides in food. Ideally I would suggest eating organic foods entirely to help avoid
the detrimental effects from pesticides (see below for more), however, I understand that
organic food is expensive, that’s where the dirty dozen and clean fifteen can give you
guidance of which foods to prioritise as organic.
Dirty dozen
The dirty dozen are the fruits and vegetables that the UK Pesticides Action Network (PAN)
have identified with the most pesticide residues in the UK. When it comes to these foods to
avoid the harmful effects of pesticides you should try to buy organic
Clean fifteen
The clean fifteen are fruits and vegetables identified by the Environmental Working Group
(EWG) in the US with the least amount of pesticides, these are foods where you are far less
likely to ingest pesticides if you buy standard foods from a supermarket.
Beneficial factors to eating organic food
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It reduces your exposure to toxic chemicals. Organic is the most heavily regulated
food system, it guarantees no toxic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers.
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Buying organic ensures your food is GMO-free
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There is mounting evidence that organic fruits and vegetables are richer in
polyphenols and antioxidants when compared to conventionally grown products.
Studies have linked this increased nutritional intake to protecting our body against
chronic diseases including cancer.
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Organically grown crops have also been shown to have lower levels of nitrate. High
nitrate levels are linked to an increased risk of certain types of cancer
What can consuming pesticides do to you?
Consuming pesticides over a long period of time can have detrimental effects on human
health. “Pesticides are chemicals that are specifically designed to kill living organisms,” says
Devon Payne-Sturges, DrPH, an associate professor at the University of Maryland School of
Public Health in College Park. Research has shown that pesticides can pose the following
risks:
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Asthma
Alzheimer’s
Bronchitis
Cardiovascular disease
Damage the brain and nervous
system
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Disrupt the endocrine system
(hormones)
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Parkinson’s disease
Prostate and lung cancers
https://www.consumerreports.org/pesticides-in-food/stop-eating-pesticidesa1094738355/