Kale joins the ranks of the annual 'Dirty Dozen' pesticide list

By Denise Powell, CNN

Updated 0446 GMT (1246 HKT) March 20, 2019

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Strawberries topped the list in 2019 for the fourth year in a row. The most recent report states they are the fresh produce most likely to remain contaminated with pesticide residues, even after being washed. Testing found that the dirtiest one contained 23 separate pesticides residues.
Photos: The 2019 pesticide 'Dirty Dozen' fruits and vegetables
Strawberries – Strawberries topped the list in 2019 for the fourth year in a row. The most recent report states they are the fresh produce most likely to remain contaminated with pesticide residues, even after being washed. Testing found that the dirtiest one contained 23 separate pesticides residues.
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Spinach, in the second spot this year, had relatively high concentrations of a potentially brain-damaging neurotoxic insecticide called permethrin. It was detected on 76% of spinach samples.
Photos: The 2019 pesticide 'Dirty Dozen' fruits and vegetables
Spinach – Spinach, in the second spot this year, had relatively high concentrations of a potentially brain-damaging neurotoxic insecticide called permethrin. It was detected on 76% of spinach samples.
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Kale, edging out nectarines for third place this year, most commonly tested positive for Dacthal, which is a potential cancer-causing agent. Greater than 92% of the samples of kale tested positive for two or more pesticide residues.