EU strawberries found contaminated with multiple toxic pesticides

A PAN Europe investigation of 41 strawberry samples from 11 EU member states found that 78 % contained at least one pesticide residue and 61 % had two or more. On average each berry carried 3.5 different pesticide traces, with up to nine distinct compounds in the most contaminated samples.

PFAS chemicals were present in 58 % of the samples, and the most common residues were the endocrine‑disrupting fungicides fludioxonil (39 %) and cyprodinil (33 %). More than half (56 %) of the detected pesticides belong to the EU’s "candidates for substitution" list, earmarked for phase‑out since 2011. Some residues are also neuro‑toxic.

Activists say the findings expose a “cocktail effect” that current EU risk assessments do not fully address. Gergely Simon of PAN Europe warned, “The public must know that regulatory bodies do not assess the risks of such pesticide cocktails.” PAN Europe director Martin Dermine added, “Our regulatory bodies fail to protect citizens, especially children.” The study calls on EU authorities to enforce existing pesticide limits more strictly and accelerate the removal of the most hazardous substances.