Driscoll's Strawberries Tested Positive for 12 Pesticides Including 'Forever Chemicals

An investigation has allegedly uncovered cancer-linked chemicals in strawberries sold by Driscoll's, one of America's most recognizable berry brands. Consumer watchdog Mamavation purchased two containers of Driscoll's strawberries, one organic and one conventional, from a Southern California grocery store. They sent these samples to an EPA-certified laboratory for testing of more than 500 pesticides.

Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, based in Virginia, detected residues of 12 different pesticides on the conventional strawberries, the report said. Approximately eight were identified as PFAS-linked pesticides or related fluorinated compounds. These are often referred to as 'forever chemicals' because some can persist in the environment and the human body for years.

While the detected residues appear to fall within US federal tolerance levels, the report alleged several exceeded stricter international standards. This raised concerns about cumulative exposure to PFAS-linked pesticides. Mamavation said some of the detected residue levels exceeded limits used in the European Union, Taiwan, Chile, Korea and Russia.

However, the specific organic strawberry samples tested in the investigation reportedly showed no detectable pesticide or PFAS residues. A Driscoll's spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'Driscoll's takes seriously and closely follows scientific best practices and regulatory guidance on research related to food-safety risks.'

'Driscoll's and our independent grower partners operate in full compliance with applicable US federal, state and local pesticide and food-safety regulations,' the spokesperson continued. This includes frequent oversight by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. All Driscoll's growers also undergo third-party audits by independent auditors to help provide transparency. These audits ensure they are using safe agricultural practices at each stage of production.

In a separate report, the Environmental Working Group analyzed nearly 50 different fruits and vegetables. They ranked strawberries among the produce items with the highest number of detectable pesticide residues. The report did not specifically mention what brand of strawberries were tested.

Though Americans consume about eight pounds of fresh strawberries per year, the group reported that 99 percent of tested samples contained detectable residue of at least one pesticide. About 30 percent contained 10 or more. The EPA sets legal pesticide residue limits, known as 'tolerances,' for foods sold in the US.

Federal agencies maintain that pesticide residues falling below established tolerance levels are safe, relying on scientific evidence to set thresholds that remain beneath harmful amounts. However, these official limits are typically measured in parts per million, a scale significantly higher than the parts-per-billion levels detected in the strawberries under investigation. Experts clarify that finding pesticide residue does not automatically indicate a health risk, yet critics argue that long-term consumption of multiple chemicals, particularly PFAS-linked compounds capable of accumulating in the environment and the human body, warrants deeper concern even at low exposure rates.

An independent investigation uncovered 12 distinct pesticides, eight of which are tied to cancer-linked 'forever chemicals.' Among the specific substances identified was flonicamid, an insecticide targeting aphids and sap-feeding pests, detected at 32 parts per billion (ppb). The laboratory also reported 60 ppb of fludioxonil, a fungicide sprayed on fruit to prevent mold and decay during storage. Flupyradifurone, an insecticide attacking insect nervous systems, appeared at 27 ppb, while fluxapyroxad, a fungicide halting fungal diseases, registered at 26 ppb; notably, the fluxapyroxad level surpassed standards used in Russia.

Further analysis revealed 25 ppb of indoxacarb, an insecticide used against caterpillars, with the report alleging the quantity exceeded limits set in the European Union, Taiwan, and Chile. Novaluron, an insect growth regulator disrupting development, was found at 19 ppb, also exceeding European Union standards. Additional residues included 13 ppb of tetraconazole, a fungicide combating mildew, and 35 ppb of TFNG, a chemical breakdown product associated with specific pesticide compounds. The testing also identified several non-PFAS pesticides at elevated concentrations, including Cyprodinil at 125 ppb and pyrimethanil at 310 ppb. Quinoxyfen, a fungicide controlling powdery mildew, reached 45 ppb, a level the report claimed exceeded Korean standards.

The highest concentration detected was tetrahydrophthalimide (THPI), a chemical byproduct linked to the fungicide captan, which measured 302 ppb in the strawberries. In response to these findings, a Driscoll's spokesperson stated: 'Driscoll's pursues a triple-bottom-line approach: environmental stewardship, community partnership, and economic sustainability.' The spokesperson further emphasized the company's commitment to supporting independent organic and conventional growers in meeting USDA standards, investing in soil health and biodiversity, and funding local leaders and nonprofits through the Driscoll's Charitable Fund to advance resilient, safe food systems.