Overview
- The review examined 930 samples covering 78 conventionally grown fruits and vegetables, with residues found in 348 samples and traces identified in 40 crop groups.
- More than 90% of nectarines, peaches and plums carried the PFAS fungicide fludioxonil, and over 80% of cherries, strawberries and grapes showed PFAS residues.
- Roughly 70 PFAS pesticides are registered with the U.S. EPA, 53 are registered in California, and the report estimates about 2.5 million pounds are applied annually on California cropland.
- California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation says products undergo comprehensive review and that findings are evaluated against federal tolerance levels, cautioning that detection does not equal risk.
- Experts cite persistence and links in studies to immune, cancer, and reproductive harms, while advocates advise washing produce or choosing organic as some states pursue tighter PFAS pesticide restrictions.