Scientists have identified fruits and vegetables that may contain toxic 'forever chemicals' known as PFAS. These synthetic chemicals, which break down slowly, have been linked to harmful health effects in humans, including cancer, depending on exposure levels.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit organisation focused on public health, released its 2026 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce on Tuesday. The guide found pesticide residues on popular fruits and vegetables, including some classified as forever chemicals.
The EWG's Dirty Dozen list highlights non-organic produce with the highest pesticide residues. Spinach topped the list, followed by kale, collard and mustard greens. The EWG reported that over half of kale samples were contaminated with DCPA, a possibly cancer-causing pesticide. Other fruits and vegetables on the list included strawberries, grapes, nectarines, peaches, cherries, apples, blackberries, pears, potatoes, and blueberries.
According to the EWG, 96 percent of Dirty Dozen samples contained pesticides, with forever chemicals appearing in 63 percent of samples. The Government Accountability Office has noted that nearly everyone in the US has already been exposed to PFAS, which are also found in tap water, takeout containers, and makeup.
The Food and Drug Administration stated that it takes action if a food contains PFAS levels indicating a health concern. For those seeking lower pesticide traces, the EWG's Clean Fifteen list includes pineapples, sweet corn, avocados, papaya, onion, frozen sweet peas, asparagus, cabbage, cauliflower, watermelon, mangoes, bananas, carrots, mushrooms, and kiwi.
