Testing of fresh produce from Coles, Woolworths and Aldi has found more than 200 toxic residues across 78 samples, with close to half carrying PFAS pesticide residue and more than half carrying residue from a pesticide barred in the European Union, 7NEWS reported. The produce types affected included strawberries, blueberries, grapes, capsicums, tomatoes, broccoli, lettuce and rockmelon, according to Pesticide Action Australia's findings.
Samples were purchased from stores in Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth and Melbourne. The testing detected 54 distinct pesticides in total. Imidacloprid, a chemical not approved in Europe, appeared across nine samples covering blueberries, broccoli, capsicum, lettuce and rockmelon.
Pesticide Action Australia explained that imidacloprid used as a seedling drench in lettuce is absorbed into the plant as it grows, meaning residues remain inside the leaves even without direct spraying of mature plants, and washing cannot remove it. The maximum amount of imidacloprid permitted on lettuce under Australian law is 5mg per kilogram, though the report did not disclose the quantities of each chemical found on individual samples.
Eleanor Davis of Pesticide Action Australia called on supermarkets and government to increase testing and publish more results. Federal Senator David Pocock said Australia is permissive in how it regulates chemicals, with many substances banned in Europe still being applied to produce appearing on supermarket shelves, and that he is pressing the government and regulators to treat the issue more seriously. A FSANZ spokesperson said an MRL exceedance shows a residue is above the legal limit but added that this finding alone does not mean a public health risk exists.
Coles said food safety is its highest priority, that all fresh produce suppliers must meet strict requirements and comply with Australian regulations, and that the company has regularly tested produce for pesticide residues for decades. Aldi said its fresh produce suppliers must hold GFSI and HARPS certifications and that it runs its own risk-based surveillance testing.
AusVeg said Australian-grown vegetables rank among the safest in the world. Berries Australia said the residue found on strawberries does not endanger human health.
Separately, the Green Institute has proposed creating a government-owned supermarket chain called Fair Go Grocers, funded at $25.1 billion over five years and targeting a 20% national supermarket share. The plan would require new divestiture laws compelling Coles and Woolworths to hand over 200 stores and three distribution centres to the publicly owned chain, which would be built from 424 new stores and 10 distribution centres.
Woolworths accounts for approximately 38% of national supermarket grocery sales and Coles approximately 29%, while Aldi holds around 9%. The Australian Greens have not formally endorsed the proposal.
Consumers buying fresh produce at Coles, Woolworths or Aldi may be purchasing items that carry residues of pesticides not approved in the EU, and in some cases residues above Australian legal limits, according to the report. Washing produce will not remove pesticide residues that have been absorbed into the plant itself, such as imidacloprid in lettuce.
Reporting: 7NEWS, Yahoo News, The New Daily
Background: ABC News, The Guardian
Written by Pick & Scroll News from the reporting and documents linked above.
