Supermarket Strawberry Test Uncovers Fungicide Levels Nearly 10 Times Australia’s Legal Limit

Australian shoppers have been left with serious questions about their everyday groceries after laboratory testing detected a fungicide on supermarket strawberries at nearly 10 times Australia’s permitted residue limit. The strawberries were purchased in Sydney, while other fruit and vegetables bought from Aldi, Coles and Woolworths also produced findings that raised concerns about pesticide monitoring across the country.

The results come from Australia’s Residue Report 2026, published by Pesticide Action Australia after independent laboratory testing of 78 produce samples purchased across five capital cities. The investigation detected 201 pesticide residues from 54 different pesticides, with four samples exceeding applicable Australian maximum residue limits. The findings have reignited calls for greater transparency around pesticide testing, although the report represents a limited snapshot of supermarket produce rather than a comprehensive picture of everything Australians buy.

Strawberry Test Reveals One Of The Report’s Most Alarming Results

The most striking result involved strawberries purchased from a Sydney supermarket, where testing detected the fungicide bupirimate at approximately 9.5 times Australia’s maximum residue limit. The finding stood out among the samples examined by Pesticide Action Australia and raised questions about how the affected produce was grown, treated and monitored before reaching supermarket shelves. The organisation has called for stronger transparency around pesticide residues and more support for farmers seeking to reduce chemical use.

The report examined 13 types of everyday fruit and vegetables purchased from Aldi, Coles and Woolworths stores in Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth and Melbourne. The produce included apples, avocados, bananas, blueberries, broccoli, capsicum, cucumber, grapes, lettuce, potatoes, rockmelon, strawberries and tomatoes. Samples were purchased in June and sent to an independent laboratory on the same day, according to the organisation.

Across the 78 samples, researchers identified 201 pesticide residues representing 54 different pesticides. Four samples were reported as exceeding applicable maximum residue limits, including the Sydney strawberries and a grape sample containing bifenthrin at approximately 5.5 times its permitted limit. The report also identified pesticide residues in capsicum where no maximum residue limit had been established for the particular pesticide and crop combinations.

The findings have attracted attention because fruit and vegetables are a regular part of the Australian diet. However, the results do not establish that all produce sold by the three supermarkets is affected, nor do they show how frequently similar exceedances occur nationwide. The sample was relatively small, and further investigation would be needed to determine the circumstances behind individual results.

Four Produce Samples Raised Questions About Australian Limits

Pesticide Action Australia identified four samples that it said exceeded Australian maximum residue limits or involved pesticide and crop combinations without an established maximum residue limit. These findings require careful interpretation because a residue-limit exceedance and the detection of a pesticide without an established limit are different regulatory situations.

The report highlighted strawberries from Sydney and grapes as two of the most notable results. The strawberries contained bupirimate at approximately 9.5 times the applicable maximum residue limit, while the grapes contained bifenthrin at approximately 5.5 times the limit. The organisation also identified fipronil and permethrin in capsicum samples where no maximum residue limit was established for those particular combinations.

Pesticide Action Australia said eight residue findings indicated possible unauthorised pesticide use and that it was seeking confirmation from authorities. Such findings do not, on their own, establish precisely how a chemical was used or whether a grower deliberately breached requirements. Investigators would need to establish the origin of the produce, the circumstances of pesticide application and whether approved use instructions were followed.

Maximum residue limits provide a benchmark for the concentration of a pesticide permitted on a particular food commodity. They are linked to approved agricultural uses and help regulators monitor whether chemicals have been applied in accordance with established requirements. A suspected breach can trigger investigation, but it should not automatically be interpreted as proof that eating the food will cause illness.

Report Finds Forever Chemical Residues In Supermarket Produce

Another major finding concerned per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, widely known as PFAS. Pesticide Action Australia reported that 44% of the tested samples contained one or more PFAS pesticides. These substances have attracted international attention because certain PFAS can persist in the environment and have been associated with health concerns, including some cancers, elevated cholesterol and effects on immune function.

PFAS refers to a broad family of chemicals with different properties and toxicological profiles. Their presence in a food sample does not automatically establish that the food poses an immediate health risk. The potential risk depends on the particular chemical, its concentration, the amount consumed and the frequency of exposure, alongside the available evidence about its effects.

The report also found that 56% of samples contained at least one pesticide that was not approved for use in the European Union. Fourteen per cent contained a neonicotinoid pesticide, while five different organophosphate pesticides were identified across the samples. These figures describe the tested produce and should not be treated as estimates of contamination throughout Australia’s entire food supply.

Differences between countries also require context. A pesticide that is not approved in the European Union is not automatically illegal in Australia, because regulatory decisions and permitted agricultural uses vary between jurisdictions. Nevertheless, the findings have strengthened calls for Australian authorities to explain how pesticide approvals, residue testing and enforcement protect consumers.

Scientists Raise Concerns About Combined Chemical Exposure

One issue raised by the report is the potential effect of repeated exposure to multiple pesticides through food and other environmental sources. Individual chemicals may be assessed against their own safety limits, but people can encounter several different residues over time. Researchers have argued that more evidence is needed to understand how particular combinations may affect health, especially where exposure occurs over many years.

Mark Green, an associate professor in reproductive biology at the University of Melbourne, said, “There is an urgent need for these types of assessment to be undertaken. This is especially true when it comes to children and their exposure to these chemical cocktails.” His concern centres on the limitations of evidence about mixtures of chemicals and the need to consider how exposure may differ between adults and children.

Children can consume more food relative to their body weight than adults, and their bodies are still developing. These factors are relevant when scientists assess exposure and potential risks. However, the supermarket report did not demonstrate that the tested residues had caused illness in children or other consumers, and the findings should not be interpreted as proof of harm.

Pesticide Action Australia is calling for greater public access to residue-testing results and more support for growers to reduce their reliance on hazardous pesticides. Better information could help regulators identify potential compliance issues and enable consumers to understand the evidence behind food safety decisions. More comprehensive testing and follow-up investigations would also help establish whether the findings reflect isolated cases or a broader pattern.

Aldi, Coles And Woolworths Respond To Food Safety Concerns

The three supermarkets have pointed to their existing food safety requirements, supplier certification systems and pesticide-testing programmes. Their responses indicate that they have procedures intended to monitor fresh produce and ensure suppliers comply with relevant standards, although those statements do not independently resolve the individual findings in the report.

An Aldi spokesperson said the retailer requires fresh produce suppliers to meet recognised food safety standards, including Global Food Safety Initiative and Harmonised Australian Retailer Produce Scheme certifications. The company also stated, “In addition to supplier testing, ALDI conducts risk-based surveillance testing as part of its food safety and quality assurance program.”

Coles said food safety was its “highest priority” and that suppliers must comply with Australian regulations and the retailer’s requirements for pesticide use and harvesting. The company also said its supply chains were independently audited and that it regularly tested a range of fresh produce for pesticide residues.

Woolworths said it maintained strict food safety standards and complied with legislative requirements established by Food Standards Australia New Zealand and the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. The retailer also pointed to independent supplier audits, risk-based testing, farm inspections and cooperation with state food safety regulators. Further investigation would be needed to determine what action, if any, is required in response to the report’s specific results.

Australia’s Pesticide Regulator Says Suspected Breaches Need Investigation

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority is responsible for regulating agricultural and veterinary chemicals, including the approval of pesticides and the establishment of maximum residue limits. Suspected breaches may require investigation by the relevant state or territory authority, which can assess where the food originated and whether pesticide-use requirements were followed.

An APVMA spokesperson said, “Where non-compliance is identified, the relevant control-of-use authority will take appropriate action.” This process helps distinguish between an initial laboratory finding and a confirmed regulatory violation. It also allows authorities to examine the circumstances surrounding the result before determining what steps are necessary.

Pesticide Action Australia wants governments and supermarkets to publish more information about pesticide residue testing and to support farmers adopting practices that reduce chemical use. The organisation argues that growers should receive assistance with the costs and risks associated with changing farming methods rather than being expected to manage the transition alone.

The central question is whether current testing and reporting systems provide enough information to identify problems and demonstrate how they are addressed. The report does not establish that every supermarket product is unsafe, but its reported exceedances provide a reason for the relevant authorities to examine the results and communicate their findings clearly.

What Shoppers Can Do To Reduce Exposure

The findings do not mean Australians should stop eating fresh fruit and vegetables. Washing produce under clean running water can remove dirt and some pesticide residues, although it cannot guarantee that every chemical will be removed. Some residues may penetrate the produce, making them harder to eliminate through washing alone.

Consumers can take several practical steps when preparing fresh produce:

• Wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly: Rinse produce under clean running water before eating or preparing it.
• Vary the produce you eat: Choosing a range of fruit and vegetables can reduce reliance on a single crop or food source.
• Wash before cutting: Cleaning the outside of produce before slicing it helps reduce the chance of transferring surface contamination to the inside.
• Avoid household cleaning products: Soap, bleach and detergents should not be used to wash fruit and vegetables.
• Check reliable food safety updates: Use information from official authorities and credible testing organisations rather than assuming a dramatic online claim applies to every product.

These measures support safe food preparation, but they cannot guarantee the removal of all pesticide residues. Consumers should also avoid assuming that organic, imported or more expensive produce is automatically free of chemical residues. Production standards differ, and claims about particular products should be supported by evidence.

The most useful outcome of the report would be clear answers about the samples that exceeded applicable limits, followed by transparent investigations and accessible testing information. Australians rely on fresh produce as part of a healthy diet, and they deserve reliable evidence about how the food they buy is monitored. A single report cannot describe every supermarket shelf, but it can identify questions that regulators and retailers need to answer.