07 July 2026, EU: A new investigation carried out by PAN Europe and partner NGOs reveals that strawberries produced in the EU are significantly contaminated with cocktails of highly toxic pesticides. PFAS pesticides were detected in 58% of the samples. The most frequently identified pesticides are fludioxonil and cyprodinil, two endocrine disruptors that should have been banned under EU law. In addition, 56% of the identified pesticides are part of the group of the ‘more hazardous pesticides’ that should have been phased out since 2011. These results confirm that a better implementation of the pesticide legislation is needed, not a loosening of the rules, as currently discussed in the EU under the Food and Feed Safety Omnibus proposal.
Strawberries are a very popular fruit in the EU and can be consumed in high quantities by children. With strong demand from consumers, their production is intensive. PAN Europe and its partner NGOs tested 41 strawberry samples across eleven EU countries [1] for pesticide residues: 36 conventional, four organic and one labelled as pesticide-free.
Gergely Simon, a campaigner at PAN Europe, said: “We were astonished by the number of different residues found in many tested samples: up to nine different residues of pesticides were identified in a Belgian sample, eight in a Hungarian and seven in an Irish one. The general public must be informed that these cocktails are not considered by regulatory authorities.”
Indeed, EFSA has been tasked since 2005 with developing a methodology to assess the risk posed by cocktails of pesticides, but has failed to develop a comprehensive approach.
“What is highly concerning is that the identified pesticides are among the most toxic ones sold in the EU: people are exposed to cocktails of PFAS, endocrine disruptors or neurotoxic pesticides via food,” says Dr Martin Dermine, executive director of PAN Europe. “Our regulatory authorities are failing to protect citizens, particularly our children.”
Endocrine-disrupting pesticides fludioxonil and cyprodinil were identified as such by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2024 and 2025, which should have automatically led to an EU ban. In the same vein, the PFAS pesticides metabolite TFA was recently identified as ‘Toxic to reproduction category 1B’ (R1B), which should lead to a phase-out of PFAS pesticides.
Martin Dermine added: “Instead of playing the game of the pesticide industry, the European Commission, Parliament and the Council should focus on a better implementation of the existing rules, rather than weakening them. In light of these findings, the current Food and Feed Safety Omnibus proposal from the Commission and amendments discussed in both the Parliament and the Council are a scandal, and a betrayal of citizens, particularly vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant people.”
Gergely Simon concluded: “On a more positive note, samples from France and the Netherlands contained very few pesticides. This is in line with recent research showing that integrated pest management leads to a 90% reduction in pesticide use. This contradicts the claim often presented by pesticide lobbyists that producers need a bigger ‘toolbox’ of toxic pesticides.”
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