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

By Denise Powell, CNN

Updated 0446 GMT (1246 HKT) March 20, 2019

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.
Photos: The 2019 pesticide 'Dirty Dozen' fruits and vegetables
Kale – 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.
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More than 90% of nectarines, strawberries, apples, cherries, spinach, and kale samples were positive for two or more pesticide residues. Nectarines are fourth on the list this year.
Photos: The 2019 pesticide 'Dirty Dozen' fruits and vegetables
Nectarines – More than 90% of nectarines, strawberries, apples, cherries, spinach, and kale samples were positive for two or more pesticide residues. Nectarines are fourth on the list this year.
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Apples ranked fifth. Samples contained 4.4 pesticide residues on average. Apples <a href="https://www.ewg.org/release/apples-top-ewgs-dirty-dozen" target="_blank">topped</a> the annual Dirty Dozen list for five consecutive years, ending its reign in 2015. In 2016, they were <a href="https://www.ewg.org/release/ewg-s-2016-dirty-dozen-list-pesticides-produce-strawberries-most-contaminated-apples-drop" target="_blank">displaced</a> by strawberries.
Photos: The 2019 pesticide 'Dirty Dozen' fruits and vegetables
Apples – Apples ranked fifth. Samples contained 4.4 pesticide residues on average. Apples topped the annual Dirty Dozen list for five consecutive years, ending its reign in 2015. In 2016, they were displaced by strawberries.
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Grapes moved down this year from fifth to sixth, according to the report. Since 2004, the Environmental Working Group -- a nonprofit, nonpartisan environmental organization -- annually ranks pesticide contamination in 47 popular fruits and vegetables for its <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.ewg.org_foodnews_&d=DwMGaQ&c=W8uiIUydLnv14aAum3Oieg&r=IHEPXqOw2AIPPUKrXA55jpDGJainogheTJcbl13p2n4&m=cCkEhSLzBxQh8vXWgmPfB7tRm9sDK2pgRAKkqgv6_WA&s=savWwGIECw1HOPfjHzQM62P9ElWRsM7LOT24dr_G0CQ&e=" target="_blank">Shopper's Guide</a>.
Photos: The 2019 pesticide 'Dirty Dozen' fruits and vegetables
Grapes – Grapes moved down this year from fifth to sixth, according to the report. Since 2004, the Environmental Working Group -- a nonprofit, nonpartisan environmental organization -- annually ranks pesticide contamination in 47 popular fruits and vegetables for its Shopper's Guide.
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Peaches moved down one ranking on the Dirty Dozen list this year after claiming the sixth spot in 2018. The Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 are based off more than 40,900 fruit and vegetable samples tested by the US Food and Drug Administration and the US Department of Agriculture.
Photos: The 2019 pesticide 'Dirty Dozen' fruits and vegetables
Peaches – Peaches moved down one ranking on the Dirty Dozen list this year after claiming the sixth spot in 2018. The Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 are based off more than 40,900 fruit and vegetable samples tested by the US Food and Drug Administration and the US Department of Agriculture.
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Cherries are eighth on the list this year.
Photos: The 2019 pesticide 'Dirty Dozen' fruits and vegetables
Cherries – Cherries are eighth on the list this year.
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Pears now rank ninth on the list. The recommendations from the Environmental Working Group are to buy and eat organic produce, especially the fruits and vegetables found on the Dirty Dozen list.
Photos: The 2019 pesticide 'Dirty Dozen' fruits and vegetables
Pears – Pears now rank ninth on the list. The recommendations from the Environmental Working Group are to buy and eat organic produce, especially the fruits and vegetables found on the Dirty Dozen list.
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Tomatoes moved down one ranking this year after claiming the ninth spot in 2018. Research on the effects of pesticides on organisms is ongoing, and there is not a complete understanding of whether there is a particular amount of pesticides considered to be safe.
Photos: The 2019 pesticide 'Dirty Dozen' fruits and vegetables
Tomatoes – Tomatoes moved down one ranking this year after claiming the ninth spot in 2018. Research on the effects of pesticides on organisms is ongoing, and the