A typical British roast dinner may come with an unexpected side of pesticides, according to a new analysis by Greenpeace. Researchers examined data from the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) covering pesticide use on vegetables commonly consumed in the UK, including onions, leeks, carrots, parsnips, potatoes, peas, swede, turnips, and strawberries. The findings reveal that a total of 102 different pesticides were applied to these crops over 2023 or 2024, the latest years for which data is available.
Pesticide Use by Crop
The analysis broke down the number of pesticides used on each crop. Onions and leeks topped the list with 43 different pesticides, followed closely by strawberries with 42. Carrots and parsnips had 40, field potatoes 31, peas 29, swede and turnips 20, and stored potatoes five. Notably, seven of these 102 pesticides have been banned in the European Union due to links to cancer, as well as harm to bees, birds, mammals, and aquatic ecosystems.
Multiple Applications and Residue Levels
The study also examined how often these crops were sprayed throughout the growing season. All crops received multiple applications, with some being dosed dozens of times. While most samples contained pesticide residues below the maximum residue level (MRL)—the legal limit set well below levels considered safe by officials—campaigners argue that MRLs fail to account for cumulative exposure from other sources like drinking water, plastic packaging, and household products.
Health and Environmental Concerns
Greenpeace warns that intensive pesticide and fertiliser use poses risks to public health and British wildlife. Many commonly used pesticides are classified as highly hazardous (HHPs), toxic to humans and wildlife. Some are also PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” which persist in the environment for centuries and have been linked to cancer and harm to pollinators. Nina Schrank, senior campaigner at Greenpeace UK, stated: “A Sunday roast and strawberries might feel like one of the most natural and traditionally British meals imaginable, but behind the scenes they’re produced using an astonishing cocktail of pesticides. Our countryside is being drenched in pesticides, with devastating consequences for bees, birds, butterflies, rivers and the soil.”
Need for Reduction
While the government’s pesticides action plan aims to reduce use by 10% by 2030, and official figures show a 25% decline in total pesticide weight on arable crops from 2018 to 2024, Greenpeace insists more is needed. The organisation calls for a 50% reduction by 2030 and an 80% cut by 2040, alongside increased funding for farmers to transition away from chemical dependency and tighter restrictions on pesticide use in public spaces and homes.
Martin Lines, chief executive of the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN), said many people would be shocked by the extent of pesticide use in conventional farming. He emphasised that supporting farmers in the transition can significantly drive down pesticide use, but many remain locked into dependency due to government policy and supply chain pressures. “We need stronger support, regulation and accountability across the whole system to take the pressure off farmers to produce more and more food from their land, and instead support them to deliver food, nature protection and climate mitigation,” he added.
Environment campaigner Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricity, described the findings as “incredible,” noting that fruit and vegetables are polluted with over 100 pesticides. He argued that industrial farming is out of control and that these toxic chemicals should not be allowed in the food chain.
Government Response
An Environment Department (Defra) spokesperson said: “We place strict limits on pesticide residue levels in food, which are set after rigorous risk assessments to make sure levels are safe for consumers. These limits apply to both food produced domestically and imported from other countries. Our UK National Action Plan, published last year, sets out how we will support farmers, growers and other land managers to increase their use of sustainable practices to reduce potential harm from pesticides, while controlling pests and pesticide resistance effectively and protecting food security.”
