Broccoli is not on the current Clean Fifteen list. The Environmental Working Group’s 2026 Clean Fifteen, which identifies produce with the lowest pesticide residues, includes items like pineapples, avocados, sweet corn, and cauliflower, but broccoli didn’t make the cut. That said, broccoli still ranks relatively low in pesticide contamination compared to many other fruits and vegetables, and conventional broccoli remains a safe, nutritious choice.
What’s Actually on the Clean Fifteen
The EWG’s 2026 Clean Fifteen ranks produce based on pesticide residue data collected by the USDA. The full list, from lowest residues to highest within the group:
- Pineapples
- Sweet corn (fresh and frozen)
- Avocados
- Papaya
- Onions
- Sweet peas (frozen)
- Asparagus
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Watermelon
- Mangoes
- Bananas
- Carrots
- Mushrooms
- Kiwi
Almost 60% of samples across all Clean Fifteen produce had no detectable pesticide residues at all. That’s a stark contrast to the Dirty Dozen, where items like strawberries and spinach consistently show multiple pesticide detections per sample.
How the Rankings Work
The EWG refined its methodology in 2025 and now evaluates produce across four measures: how many samples test positive for any pesticide, how many different pesticides show up, the concentration of those residues, and the overall toxicity of the chemicals detected. Each factor is scored on a scale of 1 to 100, then combined into a total score out of 400. The 15 items with the lowest total scores become the Clean Fifteen, while the 12 highest become the Dirty Dozen.
Broccoli falls somewhere in the middle of the 47 produce items the USDA tests. It doesn’t carry enough residues to land on the Dirty Dozen, but it also doesn’t rank low enough to crack the Clean Fifteen. Its close relative cauliflower does make the list, which makes sense given that cauliflower’s tight, pale head is more protected from direct pesticide contact during growing.
Why Conventional Broccoli Is Still Fine to Eat
If you’re buying conventional broccoli because organic is too expensive or unavailable, you’re not making a risky choice. The EWG itself emphasizes that its guide “should not discourage people from buying and consuming produce,” whether organic or conventional. A diet high in fruits and vegetables is more important for your health than avoiding trace pesticide residues.
Broccoli is one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables you can eat. It’s packed with vitamin C, vitamin K, fiber, and sulforaphane, a compound linked to reduced inflammation and cancer-protective effects. Skipping broccoli to avoid small amounts of pesticide residue would be a net loss for your health.
How to Reduce Pesticide Residues at Home
Simple washing and prep techniques remove a meaningful portion of whatever residues are present on conventional broccoli. Rinsing under warm running water for at least one minute is the most straightforward method. For broccoli specifically, soaking the florets in warm water is effective because it reaches into the crevices of the crown where dirt and residues can hide. You can also trim the outer layer of the stalk, since peeling or trimming outer layers is one of the most reliable ways to reduce surface contamination.
Combining techniques helps the most. A soak followed by a rinse under running water, plus trimming the base of the stalk, covers your bases. You don’t need special produce washes. Both the FDA and USDA recommend plain water and a clean brush for firm produce. Cooking broccoli further breaks down residues, so steamed or roasted broccoli carries even less than raw.
When Buying Organic Broccoli Makes Sense
If you’re shopping on a budget and trying to decide where to spend extra on organic, broccoli isn’t the highest priority. Your money makes a bigger difference on Dirty Dozen items like strawberries, spinach, and grapes, which consistently show high levels of multiple pesticides. For produce already low in residues, like broccoli, the gap between organic and conventional is small enough that it rarely justifies the price difference.
That said, if you’re feeding young children or are pregnant, reducing pesticide exposure across the board is reasonable. Children’s developing bodies are more sensitive to chemical exposures, and even low levels matter more on a per-pound-of-body-weight basis. In those cases, choosing organic broccoli when it’s affordable and available is a sensible precaution, not a necessity.