Traces of pesticides have been found on fruit and vegetables sold at some of Australia's biggest supermarkets, sparking fresh concerns over food safety.
asserted
Traces → find → safety
Pesticide Action Australia's (PAA) Residue Report 2026, published on Wednesday, tested 13 varieties of fruit and vegetables, including apples, bananas, lettuce, strawberries and potatoes.
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Report → publish → apples
The produce was randomly purchased from Coles, Woolworths and Aldi stores across Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth and Melbourne in June.
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produce → purchase → June
There were 201 residue detections across 78 samples, representing 54 different pesticides, including chemicals that have been linked to health concerns, according to the PAA.
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that → be → PAA
It found about 44 per cent of samples contained at least one PFAS chemical, better known as 'forever chemicals', which have been associated with health concerns including some cancers and high cholesterol.
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which → find → cancers
'Australia approves hundreds of hazardous pesticides that are banned overseas, and our government is failing to regularly test for residues,' project lead Eleanor Davis told news.com.au.
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Davis → approve → news.com.au
'As a result, more hazardous pesticides are ending up on our plates...
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pesticides → end → plates
For many Australian kids, food is the main way they're exposed to pesticides.
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they → expose → pesticides
And our industry-funded pesticide regulator is not assessing the ongoing low-level 'chemical cocktail' kids are exposed to every day.
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kids → fund → cocktail
Pesticide Action Australia's Residue Report 2026 detected a range of pesticide residues on fruit and vegetables sold in major supermarkets (stock image)
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Report → detect → supermarkets
Pesticides are widely used in agriculture to protect crops, maintain food supplies, reduce waste and support farm productivity.
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Pesticides → use → productivity
Product approvals and maximum residue limits are overseen by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).
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approvals → oversee → Authority
State and territory authorities investigate suspected misuse and residue breaches.
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authorities → investigate → misuse
The PAA report noted differences between Australia's pesticide regulations and those of other countries, claiming 60 per cent of the pesticides most heavily used in Australia are banned in the European Union.
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cent → note → Union
Just 16 per cent of those heavily used pesticides have full international approval.
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cent → use → approval
Neonicotinoids, a type of pesticide restricted in some overseas jurisdictions over environmental and potential health concerns, including the UK, US and Canada, were detected in 14 per cent of the samples.
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Neonicotinoids → restrict → samples
They are banned in the EU.
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They → ban → EU
The PAA said residue from four pesticides was found to exceed the maximum levels allowed by the APVMA, including in samples of grapes and strawberries.
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residue → say → grapes
The analysis also identified five types of organophosphate pesticides, a group of chemicals that can affect the nervous system, according to the US National Institutes of Health.
uncertain
that → identify → Health
In a statement to the Daily Mail, the APVMA said it was aware of the report released by the PAA.
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it → say → PAA
Eleanor Davis, project lead at Pesticide Action Australia (pictured) said that Australia has a 'pesticide problem'
'
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Australia → picture → problem
Any suspected MRL violations should be reported to the relevant state or territory authority for investigation,' an APVMA spokesperson said.
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spokesperson → suspect → investigation
'These authorities will determine the origin of the food and, for Australian produce, whether approved use patterns were followed.
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patterns → determine → produce
'Where non-compliance is identified, the relevant control-of-use authority will take appropriate action.
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authority → identify → action
Pesticide Action Australia criticised the APVMA in June after the regulator allowed the continued use of paraquat with restrictions, concluding that the weight of evidence did not show approved uses increased the risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
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uses → criticise → disease
The regulator was criticised again in July over proposed higher residue limits for isocycloseram on berries, with campaigners noting the pesticide was not approved for use in the European Union.
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pesticide → criticise → Union
Ms Davis said that, with the rising cost of living, shoppers should not be expected to shop around or pay more to avoid chemicals on their food.
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shoppers → say → food
'Many farmers, already under growing pressure, want to spray fewer chemicals,' she said.
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she → grow → chemicals
'But our current food system doesn't make it easy for them.
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it → make → them
In fact, it places all the risk on them.
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it → place → them
Pesticides are widely used to protect crops and support food production, with their use regulated by the APVMA (stock image)
Ms Davis added: 'Supermarkets should be supporting our farmers to transition to nature-friendly farming practices.
'
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Supermarkets → use → practices
Farmers can't be expected to take on all the risks and costs alone.
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Farmers → expect → risks
Coles, Woolworths and Aldi all stated they follow Australian laws for all fresh produce.
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they → state → produce
'Food safety is our highest priority at Coles, and we expect all fresh produce suppliers to meet strict food safety requirements and comply with applicable Australian regulations,' a Coles spokesperson said.
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spokesperson → expect → regulations
'All fresh produce supplied to Coles must come from certified growers who follow strict food safety requirements on pesticide use and when produce can be harvested.
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produce → supply → use
'Coles regularly tests a range of fresh produce for pesticide residues throughout the year and has been doing so for decades.'
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Coles → test → decades
An Aldi spokesperson told the Daily Mail the supermarket 'requires its fresh produce suppliers to meet recognised food safety standards'.
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supermarket → tell → standards
'Suppliers undertake regular testing, with fresh produce items required to comply with all standards,' they said.
'
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they → undertake → standards
In addition to supplier testing, ALDI conducts risk-based surveillance testing as part of its food safety and quality assurance program.
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ALDI → conduct → program
It is understood Woolworths follows the strictest food safety standards and ensures full compliance with legislative requirements set by Food Standards Australia New Zealand and the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.
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Woolworths → understand → Australia
…and 2 more, not listed.
The Aporia
