Australian fruit and veg found to contain ‘forever chemicals’

A new report shows traces of pesticides* remain in some fruit and vegetables sold across Australian supermarkets.

Australia’s Residue Report 2026, released on Wednesday by not-for-profit charity Pesticide Action Australia, examined 13 types of fruit and vegetables randomly purchased at Coles, Woolworths and Aldi stores across Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth and Melbourne in June.

The independent testing of a range of fresh produce found 201 pesticide residues from 54 different pesticides across 78 samples.

Thirteen different types of fruit and vegetables were tested in the study, among them common family favourites: apples, avocado, bananas, blueberries, broccoli, capsicum, cucumber, grapes, lettuce, potatoes, rockmelon, strawberries and tomatoes.

WHICH CHEMICALS WERE FOUND?
Of the samples tested, 44 per cent carried one or more per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are also known as “forever chemicals” because they remain in the environment for a very long time. PFAS can cause problems for the environment and have also been linked with health problems in humans including cancers, high cholesterol and immune system dysfunction*.

Four residues also breached limits set by the national regulator, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), and 56 per cent of samples carried at least one pesticide that was approved for use in Australia but not in the European Union.

The testing also revealed 14 per cent of samples carried a neonicotinoid* pesticide – a class of pesticide widely banned and restricted overseas, which is absorbed inside crops and which is also linked to significant health and environmental concerns.

Five different organophosphate* pesticides – a class of neurotoxic* chemicals that have been significantly restricted or banned globally due to serious health and environmental risks – were also revealed by the testing.

Four samples tested – including grapes, strawberries and capsicums – exceeded the maximum residue limits set by the APVMA.

Pesticide Action Australia, which advocates* reducing pesticide use across Australia, also found eight residues in the samples tested that indicated unauthorised* pesticide use, and is urgently seeking confirmation from authorities.

BANNED OVERSEAS BUT NOT IN AUSTRALIA
Pesticides are widely used in farming to promote supply, reduce food waste and support farm productivity, and in Australia, pesticide approval is managed by the APVMA, which is an Australian government agency that receives the majority of its funding from the industry it regulates, through the payment of fees, levies and charges.

However, Australia has continued to use pesticides that have long been barred overseas, with 60 per cent of Australia’s high-use pesticides banned in the European Union and just 16 per cent retaining full international approval.

In July, the APVMA’s proposal to allow up to 500 times more residue of the “forever chemical” isocycloseram on berries made headlines across the country, while just weeks earlier, Australia’s chemical regulator approved the use of weedkiller paraquat, albeit under more restricted settings, which has been linked to Parkinson’s disease* and is banned in more than 70 countries around the world.

THE IMPACT OF AUSTRALIA’S PESTICIDE USE
Pesticide Action Network UK policy manager Nick Mole said the report “clearly demonstrates that Australia has a problem with pesticides”.

“Not only could this negatively impact Australian consumers and the wider environment, but it could also harm future trade relations with the UK and EU,” he said.

Pesticide Action Australia project lead Eleanor Davis urged the government and supermarkets to test produce more often, publish their findings and support farmers to reduce pesticide use across the country.

“Reducing chemicals sprayed on farms and on our food is a win-win for the country,” Ms David said. “It’s better for our health and better for our environment. With the rising cost of living, consumers should not be expected to shop around or pay more to avoid chemicals on our food.”

A Coles spokesperson told news.com.au that “food safety is our highest priority at Coles, and we expect all fresh produce suppliers to meet strict food safety requirements and comply with applicable Australian regulations”.

news.com.au contacted Woolworths and Aldi for comment.

WHICH FOODS ARE FREE FROM PESTICIDES?
While it’s concerning that different supermarkets across the country were found to have apple, avocado, banana, blueberry, broccoli, capsicum, cucumber, grape, lettuce, potato, rockmelon, strawberry and tomato samples with pesticide residue on them, it’s important to remember that dozens of other fruit and vegetables were not tested in the study. Fruits and vegetables from smaller grocery stores, which could have come from different suppliers to the major supermarkets, were also not included.

The size of the study represents an extremely small proportion of Australia’s overall fruit and vegetable production.

Fresh fruit and vegetables are among the most important items in a person’s diet – and many health experts agree that Aussies aren’t getting enough of them. So how do we ensure we eat enough of these important, nutrient-rich foods while reducing the amount of pesticides we are exposed to?

Organic food is one option, though it is more expensive. And at the moment, the cost of living makes it hard for most families to increase their food budget each week.

Naturally derived* pesticides are also allowed in organic farming, which means there may be no guarantee that the expensive, organic option won’t have any chemical residue in it.

Growing your own food is a relatively cheap and enjoyable alternative. By learning about sustainable gardening techniques such as permaculture*, you can produce your own fruit and vegetables for a fraction of the cost of buying organic – while giving back to the environment. Just make sure to ask your folks to test the soil for contaminants* first – especially if you live in a suburb that was once an industrial area.

And if you don’t have a garden at home, there may be a community garden near you where you can pitch in and help out.

HOW TO REDUCE YOUR INTAKE OF PESTICIDES
While some pesticide residue exists inside fruit and vegetables, washing produce has been proven to reduce a person’s exposure to any surface residue.

According to the Australian Institute of Accreditation, you should always wash fruit and vegetables with cold, running water and scrub firm produce, such as melons and potatoes, with a brush before eating them. It’s also important to wash your hands first with soap and water to avoid transferring any germs. Thoroughly washing produce not only removes any residual chemicals but it also helps to remove any bacteria that might have found its way onto your food from being handled in the supermarket.

POLL

GLOSSARY

• pesticides: chemical or biological substances used to kill or repel insect pests that kill crops or spread disease
• immune system dysfunction: when your body’s defence system against disease doesn’t work properly, becoming overactive (such as in the case of having allergies), underactive (causing you to get sick a lot) or causing auto-immune disorders (where it mistakenly attacks your own healthy tissue)
• neonicotinoid: a type of neuroactive synthetic pesticide that is absorbed into the whole plant and kills insects by disrupting the nervous system
• organophosphate: human-made chemicals that blocks an essential nervous system enzyme from working and is used in pesticides, nerve agents and flame retardants
• neurotoxic: a substance that damages or kills cells in the central or peripheral nervous system
• advocates: people or organisations fighting for change or working towards a certain cause
• unauthorised: not allowed to be used
• Parkinson’s disease: a brain disorder that affects movement and gets worse over time, causing stiffness, tremors and a shuffling walk as well as non-movement symptoms like depression, hallucinations and cognitive impairments
• naturally derived: coming from a plant or natural component but processed using chemicals to change its original state
• permaculture: a system that works using the natural principles of ecosystems in order to produce crops in a sustainable way
• contaminants: any substance that makes the soil or water unsafe to use. Some examples of soil contaminants include lead, asbestos and arsenic

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QUICK QUIZ
1. Which fruits and vegetables were tested in the study?
2. Where was the produce taken from?
3. What are three examples of vegetables that weren’t examined for pesticide residue?
4. What is one way you can get chemical-free produce?
5. Why should you always wash fruit and vegetables before eating and/or cooking them?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. What would you say?
What would you say to someone who was so worried about “forever chemicals” that they didn’t want to eat fresh fruit and vegetables? Use information from the story to help you write a detailed explanation to help them

Time: Spend at least 20 minutes on this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science, Health and Physical Education

2. Extension
What do you think ordinary people and kids like you can do to help reduce toxic chemical use in growing our food? Write a list of specific steps that can be taken. Next to each step, write sentences explaining why this should help.

Time: Spend at least 20 minutes on this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Health and Physical Education

VCOP ACTIVITY
Read this!
A headline on an article – or a title on your text – should capture the attention of the audience, telling them to read this now. So choosing the perfect words for a headline or title is very important.

Create three new headlines for the events that took place in this article. Remember, what you write and how you write it will set the pace for the whole text, so make sure it matches.

Read out your headlines to a partner and discuss what the article will be about based on the headline you created. Discuss the tone and mood you set in just your few, short words. Does it do the article justice? Will it capture the audience’s attention the way you hoped? Would you want to read more?

Consider how a headline or title is similar to using short, sharp sentences throughout your text. They can be just as important as complex ones. Go through the last text you wrote and highlight any short, sharp sentences that capture the audience.