A new investigation by Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN UK) has revealed that ten different PFAS-containing pesticides have been found in UK fruit and vegetables.

PAN UK analysed data from the UK Government’s Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food. The committee provides the UK government with independent advice on the monitoring of pesticide residues in food. Each year, it tests around 2,500 one-kilogram samples of food taken from supermarket shelves and other food outlets in Great Britain.

Strawberries topped the league with 95% of the 120 samples tested in 2022 contaminated by PFAS pesticides. Next were grapes, followed by cherries, spinach and tomatoes. See the full list of results here.

PFAS are a family of over 10,000 chemicals known as ‘forever chemicals’ because they will last for generations in the environment. They are used in a wide range of consumer products, such as food packaging, cosmetics, and clothing, as well as in industrial applications like pesticides.

Studies have found PFAS in drinking water across Europe, and the European biomonitoring project, HBM4EU, found that the general public is widely exposed to harmful chemicals, including PFAS. Recent studies have found PFAS in blood samples. For example, one study found PFAS in the blood of most Americans tested, and another study found PFAS in the blood of key European leaders.

Exposure to some PFAS has been linked to developmental issues, immune system disruption, and other serious health conditions.

PAN UK states that six of the 25 PFAS pesticides used in the UK are classified as ‘Highly Hazardous’, including one insecticide which is toxic to both people and bees. Nick Mole, Policy Officer at PAN UK says, “PFAS pesticides are absolutely unnecessary for growing food and are an easily avoidable source of PFAS pollution”.

Dr Shubhi Sharma, Scientific Research Assistant at CHEM Trust said:

“PFAS are a group of entirely human-made chemicals that didn’t exist on the planet a century ago and have now contaminated every single corner and our bodies. No one gave their consent to be exposed to these harmful chemicals, and now we have to live with this toxic legacy for decades to come. To stop adding to this toxic burden and protect people and nature we urgently need to ban this group of chemicals.

PAN UK is calling on the UK government to ban PFAS pesticides and to support farmers to help them move to safer alternatives.

Last year, alongside other NGOs, CHEM Trust launched a PFAS action plan, which sets out the steps the UK government needs to take to transition to a PFAS-free economy. Read more about what the action plan is calling for here.

PAN UK’s study has been covered in a range of media outlets, including Sky News, inews The Independent and Metro.

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