EWG Guide Reveals PFAS in Produce Pesticide Residues

The Environmental Working Group released its annual Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce on March 24, 2026, revealing for the first time the presence of PFAS, or so-called forever chemicals, in pesticide residues on commonly consumed fruits and vegetables across the United States. The guide, based on analysis of more than 54,000 samples tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ranks produce into the Dirty Dozen, items with the highest levels of residues, and the Clean Fifteen, those with the lowest.

This year's findings underscore ongoing concerns about chemical exposure in the food supply, though federal agencies maintain that all tested produce meets safety standards. The EWG reported that 96 percent of Dirty Dozen samples contained pesticide residues, with 203 different pesticides detected overall and most samples showing four or more types. PFAS pesticides appeared in 63 percent of those samples, including fludioxonil, found in 14 percent of all produce tested and nearly 90 percent of peaches and plums. Another notable detection was chlorpropham, a sprout inhibitor present in 90 percent of potato samples and banned in the European Union due to health risks.