The 2026 edition of the Pesticide Guide published by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) brings back to the center of the debate a topic that closely concerns daily habits, namely the presence of chemical residues in the fruit and vegetables that end up on our tables. An annual event which, for over twenty years, has guided consumers and scholars thanks to a detailed analysis of fruit and vegetable products on the market in the United States.
The latest investigation is based on significant numbers: more than 54,000 samples examined, belonging to 47 different types of fruit and vegetables, based on data collected by the US Department of Agriculture. Before the tests, each sample was treated as it would be in a domestic kitchen: carefully washed, peeled or rubbed, so as to restore a photograph that adhered to everyday reality.
To construct the ranking, the researchers took four fundamental criteria into consideration: quantity of residues, variety of pesticides present, frequency with which contamination occurs and level of toxicity of the substances identified, a parameter which has taken on even greater weight starting from 2025.
The result gives a less than reassuring picture. Traces of 264 different pesticides appear in the analyzed samples, 203 of which were identified among the foods included in the so-called Dirty Dozen.
Spinach and black cabbage: the most contaminated of all
Spinach once again leads the ranking of the most exposed products, confirming itself as the food with the highest concentration of pesticides in relation to weight. On average, on each sample analyzed, the presence of four or more different substances is found, a sign of multiple structural contamination.
Soon after, black cabbage and mustard cabbage appear, also characterized by high levels of chemical residues and a strong variety of pesticides detected. In the horticultural sector, therefore, the negative primacy goes without hesitation to broad-leaved vegetables.
The most contaminated fruit
On the fruit front, strawberries maintain a critical position, followed by grapes, nectarines and peaches, all of which share a strong exposure to phytosanitary treatments.
Here is the complete list of the twelve most contaminated products in 2026:
Almost all categories analysed, with the sole exception of potatoes, show the average presence of at least four pesticides per sample. A fact that fuels the concerns of experts, especially in light of the so-called “cocktail effect”, i.e. simultaneous exposure to multiple chemical substances, which can result in a progressive accumulation within the body.
At the basis of this vulnerability are very specific biological characteristics: thin or edible peels, the need for frequent treatments against parasites and diseases, as well as the widespread use of systemic pesticides capable of penetrating plant tissues.
It should be remembered that the analysis concerns products harvested in the United States and analyzed by the USDA, the United States Department of Agriculture, and that the European context presents different, often more restrictive, rules. This does not mean that the dynamics of pesticide accumulation remain similar even in crops on the Old Continent.
PFAS: the most disturbing news of 2026
Alongside traditional pesticides, the 2026 edition introduces a new element, the presence of PFAS, chemical substances known for their extraordinary persistence in the environment. The data shows that over 60% of the samples belonging to the Dirty Dozen contain traces of these compounds, in fact the three most frequently identified pesticides fall precisely into the PFAS category, confirming their now widespread diffusion.
The term “eternal substances” derives from the molecular structure: the chemical bonds are so stable that they resist for years, decades or even centuries. Once dispersed in soil, water or within the human organism, they tend to persist without degrading easily. Evidence collected by the US Environmental Protection Agency indicates a long list of possible negative effects: tumors, thyroid disorders, increased cholesterol, reduced fertility, liver damage, hormonal alterations and weakened immune system. In some cases, infinitesimal quantities are enough to generate significant consequences.
Bernadette Del Chiaro, senior vice president of the EWG, expressed a clear position:
There is no way to contain the damage. The fact that we are intentionally spraying persistent chemicals on the products we buy at the supermarket is truly shocking.
The “cleanest” products: Clean Fifteen
Alongside the blacklist, the report also identifies fifteen products characterized by very low levels of contamination. In approximately 60% of the samples no detectable residue emerges. These are generally foods with thick skins or natural resistance to parasite attacks. These include:
Comparison with producers
The EWG’s conclusions are met with reaction from the agri-food industry every year. The Alliance for Food and Farming (AFF) disputes the reading of the data, arguing that information from the USDA program is interpreted in a misleading way.
According to the organization, more than 99% of the samples analyzed fall within the safety limits established by the Environmental Protection Agency, while more than 42% are free of detectable residues. In support of this position, a study published in the Journal of Toxicology is also cited, according to which the choice of organic products does not significantly reduce the risks for consumers, given that pesticide levels remain extremely low.
The most delicate aspect concerns the social impact of the relationship. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that only one in ten Americans consume adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables. Among the most economically fragile groups, the effect of rankings such as the Dirty Dozen would lead to an overall reduction in consumption, rather than a move towards organic.
For its part, the EWG reiterates that even exposures below the legal limits deserve attention, especially in the presence of multiple contaminations and the growing spread of PFAS, a combination that still remains little considered at a regulatory level.
How to limit exposure
Experts agree on an essential point: eliminating fruit and vegetables from the diet is not a viable solution. These foods continue to constitute an essential basis for correct nutrition.
The most practical indication is to prefer, when possible, organic products for the foods included in the Dirty Dozen, or to opt for those in the Clean Fifteen in the case of conventional purchases.
A good practice remains thorough washing under running water, accompanied by the use of a brush for products with compact pulp. A simple but fundamental gesture to reduce the presence of surface residues.
