Because we have really delved into the subject of pesticides lately, we were left with another question: on which fruit and vegetables are actually the most and fewest residues found? PAN-NL analysed roughly three thousand measurements by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. That yields a few striking lists.
What we now know about pesticides
Let's return to what our earlier search yielded. You do not need to [eat/buy/wash] fruit and vegetables because of possible pesticide residues not to be peeled as a precaution. Wash well remains sensible, even though you won't get everything away with it. Also the apple peel can you just eat, while you have a pumpkin you can actually peel again (unless it's organic). And then we also discovered that some pesticides are PFAS and therefore hardly disappear. After all those articles, one question remained: are roughly the same amounts of residue found on every type of fruit and vegetable, or are the differences large?
Drum roll: this fruit is at the top
For the current Pesticides Diet Guide, PAN-NL used measurements from 2023 to 2025 inclusive. Among fruit, citrus fruit is at the top with an average of 4.4 different pesticide residues. Strawberries follow with an average of 4.2 residues, and an average of 4 were found on cherries. Pears and grapes complete the top five, both with an average of 3.8 different residues.
At the other end of the list are kiwifruit. An average of 0.5 different residues were found on them. Watermelons and pineapples also finish low, both with an average of 0.9 residues. They are followed by mangoes with 1.3, and plums and melons with 1.6 each. By way of comparison, an average of 2.6 different residues per sample were found in fruit.
Vegetables with high and low pesticide residues
For vegetables, spinach and peppers top the list, both with an average of 2.3 different residues. Spinach takes first place because, on average, a greater quantity was found on it. This is followed by endive and pak choi, both with an average of 2.2 different residues. Celeriac completes the top five with an average of 2.1.
The fewest residues were found on asparagus: an average of exactly zero. Red beetroot also ends up low with 0.1, followed by pumpkins with 0.2. An average of 0.4 different residues were found on cauliflower and chicory. Avocados and red cabbage average out at 0.7. An average of 1.3 different residues per sample were found on vegetables.
Unfortunately, you cannot tell from the outside whether fruit and vegetables contain pesticide residues. Washing can reduce some of those residues, but it does not remove everything. Some agents are resistant to water or are absorbed into the produce. Peeling can sometimes help, but is usually unnecessary and you also remove nutrients with it.
Low residue does not automatically mean little spraying
The ranking is based on the average number of different residues found on a product. Fruit and vegetables are usually tested whole for this, so including the peel. This even applies to citrus fruit, bananas, kiwis and pumpkins. For products that you peel, the score therefore does not accurately reflect how many residues you actually end up eating.
The list also does not state how much of each substance was found or how often spraying took place during cultivation. Some substances may have broken down or washed off before the test, and the results can vary by country, season and grower. Furthermore, many residues found does not automatically mean that a product is unsafe. According to the NVWA, the vast majority remain below the legal limit. Therefore, view the ranking primarily as an insight into what is found, not as a list of products you had better avoid.
Ingesting fewer pesticides? Eat organic more often!
To reduce the chance of residues, you can choose organic a bit more often for products that rank high. Much fewer pesticide residues are found on organic fruit and vegetables. Varying your diet also remains a good idea, so that you do not continually ingest the same products and potential residues. Above all, do not let the list deter you from eating fruit and vegetables. Their health benefits are still much greater than the potential risks of the residues found. Wash everything thoroughly, enjoy plenty of variety and, above all, keep eating plenty of fruit and vegetables!
Sources: PAN-NL, PAN-NL, PAN-NL, PAN-NL, NVWA, NVWA. Photo credits: main image: Greta Hoffman, Pexels (left), Carola G, Pexels (right), other: Angela de Vlaming (kitchen with groceries & washing strawberries), Thirdman, Pexels (cutting apples).
