Nearly 8 out of 10 European strawberries that are not organically grown contain pesticide residues, according to Flemish environmental organisation Bond Beter Leefmilieu. The residues include harmful substances, such as endocrine disruptors, which should no longer be present in the fruit.
Together with other European organisations, Bond Beter Leefmilieu conducted tests on 41 strawberry cartons from 11 European countries. In total, they examined 36 conventionally grown cartons, 4 organic cartons, and one carton labelled “pesticide-free.”
The tests revealed that more than three-quarters of the strawberries from non-organic farming contained pesticide residues. While the concentrations detected remained below the legal limit, more than half of the samples also contained PFAS pesticides and other substances that the EU aims to phase out as quickly as possible.
The researchers mainly found fludioxonil and cyprodinil: two endocrine-disrupting chemicals that, according to EU legislation, should already be banned. Furthermore, the strawberries did not meet the legal pesticide standard for infants and toddlers.
What about Belgian-grown strawberries?
Four cartons of strawberries from Belgium were tested. The three samples from conventionally farmed strawberries also contained various pesticides, some of which have endocrine-disrupting properties. These included the fungicides that had previously led to the drinking water scandal in West Flanders.
“Although the limited number of samples does not allow us to draw conclusions about the entire national production, the Belgian results are in line with the European findings,” notes Bond Beter Leefmilieu.
For the umbrella organisation PAN Europe, it is clear that the protection of the environment, biodiversity, and citizens “must be improved significantly.”