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Here are the Dirty Dozen Foods You Shouldn’t Buy & The Clean 15 You Should

Here are the Dirty Dozen Foods You Shouldn’t Buy & The Clean 15 You Should

Here’s everything you need to know about the dirty dozen foods and the clean 15.

No one wants pesticides in their produce. 🙅🏼‍♀️
We’re sharing all the info on the dirty dozen foods and the clean 15 so you’re prepared the next time you grocery shop – keto or not.

What are “Dirty Dozen” foods?

Dirty dozen foods contain the highest traces of pesticides and they are not foods you want to consume unless you’re buying them organically.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) comes out with the dirty dozen food list annually and it helps consumers make smarter and healthier choices when it comes to their farmed foods.

Did you know the consumption of pesticides is linked to cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease, ADHD, and even birth defects? 😳

Avoid these harmful chemicals by buying organic foods. They do tend to be pricier, but it’s a small price to pay for good health. 🙌🏻

According to EWG, a small amount of sweet corn, papaya, and summer squash sold in the United States is produced from genetically modified seeds so buy organic varieties of these crops if you want to avoid genetically modified produce.

Not all of the dirty dozen foods are aligned with a keto lifestyle so I’ve noted them below for you.

Here are the 2022 EWG Dirty Dozen Foods (listed in order with the most pesticides):

Strawberries
Spinach
Kale, collard, and mustard greens
Nectarines*
Apples*
Grapes*
Bell and hot peppers
Cherries*
Peaches
Pears*
Celery
Tomatoes

*These foods are not considered keto or may need to be eaten in small quantities on rare occasions when following a keto lifestyle.

So what are “Clean 15” foods?

You guessed it! The clean 15 foods are also tested annually by EWG and contain the least or no pesticides when grown conventionally. Therefore, choosing to buy these produce items from the non-organic section will still give you peace of mind and will likely cost you less money too.

Thankfully, one of our most beloved keto foods (avocados) made the top of the list, but just like the dirty dozen foods list, not all of the clean 15 are considered keto.

Here are the 2022 EWG Clean 15 foods (listed by cleanest):

Avocados
Sweet corn*
Pineapple*
Onions
Papaya*
Sweet peas (frozen)*
Asparagus
Honeydew melon*
Kiwi*
Cabbage
Mushrooms
Cantaloupe*
Mangoes*
Watermelon
Sweet Potatoes*

*These foods are not considered keto or may need to be eaten in small quantities on rare occasions when following a keto lifestyle.

Overall, it’s important to know what’s going inside our bodies and that’s whether you’re keto or not!
Screenshot our Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen foods lists and reduce your and your family’s exposure to toxic pesticides and make healthier choices you won’t regret.

Dining out? Our keto fast-food dining guides are simple to follow and perfect for your next date night.