'Forever Chemicals' Contaminate Nearly 40% of Non-Organic California-Grown Produce

Scout Impact

Highlights the pervasive contamination of non-organic produce with PFAS, underscoring the importance of choosing organic foods to avoid harmful chemicals in our diet.

Key Takeaways

• 37% of non-organic California-grown produce tested positive for PFAS residues.
• Over 90% of nectarines, plums, and peaches sampled contained the PFAS pesticide fludioxonil.
• The review analyzed 930 samples of 78 types of non-organic fruits and vegetables.

Summary

California is renowned for producing more than half of the nation's fruits and vegetables, and they're often contaminated with residues from dozens of synthetic pesticides. Some of those pesticides are "forever chemicals" known as PFAS, a new EWG analysis finds. Out of 930 samples of 78 types of non-organic, California-grown fruits and vegetables tested, 348 samples, or 37%, had traces of PFAS pesticides, based on state testing data EWG reviewed. Certain non-organic, or conventionally grown, produce from California stands out for especially high contamination — more than 90% of nectarines, plums and peaches sampled carried a single PFAS pesticide, the fungicide fludioxonil.