Toxicologists Want Shoppers to Stop Believing This Common Pesticide Myth

By Samira Vishwas On May 30, 2026

This is what they think about the Dirty Dozen list.

Credit: EatingWell / Getty

The Dish on the Dirty Dozen List

The EWG Dirty Dozen 2026 list just came out, so I chatted with toxicologists about what to know and whether or not washing produce with tools, like a salad spinnera cleaning brushor a colanderis effective.
Both toxicologists mentioned that the list lacks context, and it’s more important to eat a balanced diet with produce that fits your budget.
These experts noted that both organic and non-organic produce use pesticides.

Every year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) releases a Dirty Dozen listdetailing which types of produce have higher traces of pesticides. This year’s just came out, and after seeing many of my favorites on the list, I felt like I needed more context. To be better informed, I chatted with two toxicologists to find out what the list means, how concerned we should be and what we should be doing when it comes to buying and eating produce. Read on for insights from Toxicologist and Certified Industrial Hygienist Alex LeBeau, PhD, MPH, CIHof Exposure Assessment Consulting, LLC in Florida, and Associate Professor Ryan Marino, MDa medical toxicologist and emergency physician from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Ohio.

So, what context do the toxicologists want you to know?

The EWG’s Dirty Dozen List findings are “not framed in a way to provide adequate context for consumers,” says LeBeau. LeBeau notes that the list uses data from a range of years, so the analysis data isn’t always the most recent, and the order of rankings isn’t exactly cut and dry.

“The EPA and USDA have tested [the pesticides] and approved as not causing harmful health effects because the trace amounts are below the threshold for toxic concern,” says Marino.
“A toxicology principle is that the dose determines the health risk; There are safe levels of many things we can be exposed to and not have adverse health effects, and this happens in everyday life,” says LeBeau
Buy the produce you like that fits within your budget, and no matter what you’ve purchased, washing your produce isn’t a bad idea.

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What should you do if your favorite produce is on the list?

“In terms of practical tips, washing produce is almost always a good idea, especially if there is any visible residue,” says Marino.

When it comes to prepping your produce, not all kinds are made the same. “Perhaps simply using a produce brush under a longer rinse may reduce exposure if that is a concern,” LeBeau says. “Also, consider the food item. Is the pesticide only on the surface or throughout? The USDA tests the whole product, using a sample that is chopped, mixed or blended. Peeling off the surface layer (e.g., apple skin), may further reduce exposures,” he adds. He also notes that cooking has been shown to reduce the concentration of pesticides within ingredients.

I eat a salad every day, and by seeing a dietitian, I have also been diversifying my produce. No matter which greens, vegetables and fruits you eat most, the most versatile tool to have is a salad spinner, like this one from OXO—it’s our tested favorite and my personal go-to. It’s big enough to hold a large volume and has a sturdy design that’s reliable even after years of use. The colander base fits 6.2 quarts, and I can fit everything like multiple heads of romaine lettuce, a standard bag of spinach or one quart of strawberries.

The salad spinner is easy to use—the colander stays in the bowl, and I fill it with produce, pop it in the sink and run the produce under running water until there’s enough water to cover the ingredients, as the toxicologists recommend. I mix the contents around, remove the colander to drain, then dump the water out of the bowl. After that, I use the pump to spin and dry my ingredients. I still buy conventional produce that lands itself on the Dirty Dozen list, but I always wash it. I decide whether to buy organic based on my budget and what looks better. Does the conventional fruit look fresher with a better chance of lasting in my kitchen? If so, I’ll buy that one.

“Fruits and vegetables are critical for good nutrition, and the health benefits of eating what is available and affordable should definitely outweigh the theoretical risks that EWG fixates on,” says Marino. “When it comes to choosing between organic and non-organic produce, consumers should know that the organic label is more of a marketing term, because organic produce can be grown with pesticides, and some organic pesticides concern me as a toxicologist far more than conventional pesticides,” he adds. “There is not always a one-to-one ratio between exposure and dose, meaning that the amount you are exposed to [in your produce] does not necessarily translate into what gets inside of you,” LeBeau says.

“In terms of tips about dietary choices, if anyone wants more than just the recommendation to strive for a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetable intake, the best source for that is speaking to a registered dietitian,” says Marino.