Strawberries again top 2018's 'Dirty Dozen' fruits and veggies

By Susan Scutti, CNN

Updated 0808 GMT (1608 HKT) April 10, 2018

Strawberries topped the dirty dozen list in 2018 for the third year in a row. One strawberry sample revealed 22 separate pesticide residues, and a third of all samples contained 10 or more pesticides. However, the most recent <a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/2016PDPAnnualSummary.pdf.pdf" target="_blank">Pesticide Data Program report</a> issued by the US Department of Agriculture indicates that when pesticide residues are found on foods, they are nearly always at levels below the human tolerance limits set by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Photos: The 2018 'Dirty Dozen'
Strawberries – Strawberries topped the dirty dozen list in 2018 for the third year in a row. One strawberry sample revealed 22 separate pesticide residues, and a third of all samples contained 10 or more pesticides. However, the most recent Pesticide Data Program report issued by the US Department of Agriculture indicates that when pesticide residues are found on foods, they are nearly always at levels below the human tolerance limits set by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
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Spinach, in the second spot this year, had relatively high concentrations of a neurotoxic or brain-damaging insecticide.<br />Overall, 97% of spinach samples contained pesticide residues.