How many pesticides are on the produce we eat – and what can we do about it every day? We spoke with Alexis Temkin, PhD, senior toxicologist at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), for an overview of EWG’s 2025 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce. We unpacked everything from the “Clean Fifteen” and “Dirty Dozen” lists to the most common chemicals of concern, the impact of choosing organic vs. non-organic, and how to properly wash your fruits and vegetables to help reduce surface pesticide residue.

Credits
Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM
Guest: Alexis Temkin, PhD
Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers
Show Notes: Lauren Summers

<p>How many pesticides are on the produce we eat &ndash; and what can we do about it every day? We spoke with <a href="https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/our-experts/alexis-temkin-phd">Alexis Temkin, PhD</a>, senior toxicologist at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), for an overview of <a href="https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/full-list.php">EWG&rsquo;s 2025 Shopper&rsquo;s Guide to Pesticides in Produce</a>. We unpacked everything from the &ldquo;Clean Fifteen&rdquo; and &ldquo;Dirty Dozen&rdquo; lists to the most common chemicals of concern, the impact of choosing organic vs. non-organic, and how to properly wash your fruits and vegetables to help reduce surface pesticide residue.</p>
<p>Credits</p>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Host: Neha Pathak, MD, FACP, DipABLM</li>
<li aria-level="1">Guest: Alexis Temkin, PhD</li>
<li aria-level="1">Producer/Editor: Lauren Summers</li>
<li aria-level="1">Show Notes: Lauren Summers</li>
</ul>

WebMD Chief Physician Editor Neha Pathak, MD, and Chief Medical Officer, John Whyte, MD, MPH, explore fascinating stories to find the unexpected things that help us understand our health.