List of fruits and vegetables at high risk of being contaminated with permanent chemicals

A UK government testing programme examined fresh produce sold in the UK, some imported from overseas, and found that 95% of strawberries contained persistent organic chemicals (PFAS). Other foods found to contain the toxin included grapes (61%), cherries (56%), spinach (42%), tomatoes (38%) and peaches (38%).

PFAS chemicals are used in pesticides and household items such as nonstick pans, clothing, cosmetics, packaging and firefighting foam.

PFAS is a family of more than 10,000 chemicals. Some may never break down in the environment or our bodies. If present in small amounts, PFAS are not harmful to health.

In high enough concentrations, PFAS have been linked to serious health problems including cancer, high cholesterol, reduced kidney function, thyroid disease, impaired fertility, immune suppression, and low birth weight. There are also concerns that the chemicals may affect growth and behavioral development in infants and young children.

Nick Mole, from Pesticide Action Network UK (Pan UK), said: “There is growing evidence linking PFAS to serious diseases such as cancer. The worrying thing is that UK consumers have no choice, some of the chemicals may remain in their bodies for a long time.”

Some plastic food packaging is also contaminated with PFAS, and PFAS has been found in soil and drinking water in the UK. “We need to better understand the health risks of ingesting these forever chemicals and do everything we can to eliminate them from the food chain,” the expert said.

Traces of PFAS are found in most water sources. Research from the University of New South Wales (Australia) found that 69% of global groundwater samples exceeded safe limits.

There are 25 PFAS pesticides currently in use in the UK, six of which are classified as “very hazardous”. Pan UK is calling on the government to ban them and support farmers in finding safer alternatives.

Last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared PFOA, a type of PFAS, a class one human carcinogen. Experts have expressed particular concern about exposure to the chemicals in children, as they have been linked to developmental delays, behavioral changes, and accelerated puberty.

“PFAS are a completely man-made group of chemicals that did not exist on the planet a century ago but now contaminate every corner of the planet,” said Dr Shubhi Sharma, of the CHEM Trust. “We now have to live with this toxic residue for decades to come. The least we can do is ban the use of PFAS.”