By Miyeilis Flores
Americans consume about 4 kilos of strawberries per yearaccording to recent reports. Therefore, the inclusion of this fruit among foods with higher amount of pesticidesleading the fruit line, is a fundamental fact to take into account in our healthy eating.
Strawberries occupy a critical place on the list of “Dirty Dozen™”accompanied by the spinach and the cabbageswhich also includes products such as peaches and the raisins.
The most recent 2026 Buyer’s Guide to Pesticides in Agricultural Products reveals that, according to tests carried out by the Department of Agriculture (USDA)strawberries are the fresh fruits most likely to be contaminated with pesticide residue.
An alarming fact, especially because the analyzes were carried out “after being collected, rinsed in the field and washed before consumption,” according to the guide published by the Environmental Working Team (EWG).
Highly consumed fruit and associated risks
Experts estimate a consumption of four kilos of fresh strawberries per year per person, which implies the constant risk of ingesting the chemicals, additives and pesticides that these fruits contain and that can be harmful to health.
More recent studies reveal that the samples contained an average of eight pesticides per sample. This is due to the products used by producers to sterilize their fields before sowing, in order to eliminate pests and microorganisms from the soil.
The analyzes of USDA carried out between 2015 and 2026 on 1,174 lots of conventional strawberries revealed conclusive data: at least the ninety 9% contained a pesticideand the 30% had at least 23 pesticides different. In total, the strawberry samples contained residues of 82 different pesticides in various combinations.
Critical substances detected
The analyzes showed the presence of two substances of particular concern:
- Carbendazim: detected in the 16% of samples. It is a endocrine disrupting fungicide which can damage the male reproductive system and is considered a possible carcinogenwhich is why it is prohibited in the European Union.
- Bifenthrin: found in more than 29% of samples. It’s a pyrethroid insecticide that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California regulators have classified as a “possible carcinogen to humans”.
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