London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Aug 24, 2025

‘Highly hazardous’ pesticides discovered in ‘dirty dozen’ list of UK fruit & vegetables, analysis of govt data finds

‘Highly hazardous’ pesticides discovered in ‘dirty dozen’ list of UK fruit & vegetables, analysis of govt data finds

Over 120 different pesticides have been discovered in the 12 most-polluted products available on British shelves, according to Pesticide Action Network (PAN), with almost all grapes and oranges containing a “cocktail” of them.

Among the pesticides found in PAN’s analysis, 47 have been linked to cancer, 15 to reproductive or developmental toxins that can impact fertility, and 17 are cholinesterase inhibitors that can damage the respiratory system or cause problems such as confusion.

Grapes and oranges were found to be the two most contaminated groceries, with 87.2% and 86.7% of samples showing pesticide residues respectively. Twelve food items, which PAN refers to as the “dirty dozen,” returned positive samples of 15% or higher for multiple pesticide residues.

“Consumers presume that their food has been through rigorous testing and that if an item is available for sale in the UK then it must be safe. Unfortunately this is not necessarily the case,” Nick Mole, PAN UK’s policy officer, said.

"These figures highlight the wide array of chemicals that we are exposed to daily through our diets."


Highlighting that the general public currently has a “very limited understanding of the long-term impacts to human health” of these pesticides, Mole called on the British government to implement a proper UK pesticide testing regime to ensure food sold around the country is safe to consume.

The PAN study analysed government data for annual testing of samples of the fruit and vegetables available in the UK for chemical traces that might remain, detecting 122 different pesticides – 61% which are classified as “highly hazardous.”

While PAN conceded that the latest available data showed a drop in the overall number of groceries testing positive for pesticide cocktails, falling from 48% in 2019 to 30% in 2020, they warned that the system was not robust, as only three of the 12 most polluted items were tested in the latest batch.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs responded to the study by saying that “all food sold in the UK must meet strict rules on pesticide residue to ensure it is safe to eat,” adding that the regulations “are enforced via a comprehensive residues monitoring programme overseen by an independent specialist body.” However, the government also noted that it continues “to encourage a move away from chemical pest control” and “increase the uptake of safer alternatives.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
Trump Called Viktor Orbán: "Why Are You Using the Veto"
Horror in the Skies: Plane Engine Exploded, Passengers Sent Farewell Messages
MSNBC Rebrands as MS NOW Amid Comcast’s Cable Spin-Off
AI in Policing: Draft One Helps Speed Up Reports but Raises Legal and Ethical Concerns
Shame in Norway: Crown Princess’s Son Accused of Four Rapes
Apple Begins Simultaneous iPhone 17 Production in India and China
A Robot to Give Birth: The Chinese Announcement That Shakes the World
Finnish MP Dies by Suicide in Parliament Building
Outrage in the Tennis World After Jannik Sinner’s Withdrawal Storm
William and Kate Are Moving House – and the New Neighbors Were Evicted
Class Action Lawsuit Against Volkswagen: Steering Wheel Switches Cause Accidents
×