Report: Strawberries have more pesticides than other produce

The defending champion won again.

For the second straight year, the Environmental Working Group's Dirty Dozen, a list of the 12 types of produce with the highest loads of pesticide residues, is topped by the strawberry.

The findings of the 2017 study show that more than 98 percent of samples of strawberries, spinach, peaches, nectarines, cherries and apples tested positive for residue of at least one pesticide.

A single sample of strawberries showed 20 different pesticides. 

Spinach samples had, on average, twice as much pesticide residue by weight as any other crop.

Each of these foods tested positive for a number of different pesticide residues and contained higher concentrations of pesticides than other produce. Pears and potatoes were new additions to the Dirty Dozen, displacing cherry tomatoes and cucumbers from last year's list.

2017 Dirty Dozen List:

The study also detailed the cleanest produce. Avocados and sweet corn were the cleanest. Only 1 percent of samples showed any detectable pesticides. More than 80 percent of pineapples, papayas, asparagus, onions and cabbage had no pesticide residues. A list of all 48 fruits and vegetables with pesticide residue date is posted on the EWG website.