A new investigation into pesticide residues on supermarket fruit and vegetables has raised questions about what we're bringing home in our weekly shop. Here's what the findings reveal, what they mean for your health and how to find produce grown with fewer synthetic pesticides.
 

What's Been Found On Australian Supermarket Produce?

Fresh fruit and vegetables are a staple of a healthy diet, but a new investigation has put the way they're grown under the spotlight.

In its Australia's Residue Report 2026, Pesticide Action Australia commissioned independent laboratory testing of 78 fruit and vegetable samples purchased from Aldi, Coles and Woolworths across Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth and Melbourne in June.

The samples included everyday produce such as strawberries, grapes, apples, broccoli, capsicum and tomatoes. Across the 78 samples, the investigation reported 201 pesticide residue detections involving 54 different pesticides.

The investigation also identified four samples that Pesticide Action Australia flagged for pesticide residue concerns under Australian agricultural regulations. These included strawberries containing the fungicide bupirimate at 9.5 times the applicable Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) maximum residue limit and grapes containing bifenthrin at 5.5 times the limit. Two capsicum samples also contained pesticides for which the organisation reported no applicable APVMA residue limit.

These findings relate to APVMA limits associated with agricultural chemical use. They shouldn't automatically be interpreted as confirmed breaches of the separate Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) requirements governing pesticide residues in food sold in Australia.

The investigation also identified residues of pesticides that were not approved for use in the European Union. However, a chemical's approval status can differ between countries, so this finding alone doesn't establish that the food was unsafe or that its production breached Australian regulations.

It's also important to understand the scope of the testing. The investigation covered a relatively small number of samples purchased at a particular time. It provides a snapshot of those products, rather than a complete picture of pesticide residues across Australian supermarkets.

Still, it raises an important question: how much do we know about the pesticides used to grow the food we eat every day?
 

What Does This Mean For Your Health?

Pesticides are used in agriculture to control insects, weeds, fungi and other pests that can damage crops. They're a broad group of chemicals, with different purposes and safety profiles.

A pesticide residue is a small amount of a chemical that remains on or in produce after it has been grown, harvested or stored.

In Australia, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) establishes maximum residue limits (MRLs) as part of regulating agricultural chemical use. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) establishes the residue limits applicable to food sold in Australia through the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.

An MRL is not a direct measure of toxicity. A residue above an MRL can indicate that a pesticide hasn't been used in accordance with its approved conditions, but it doesn't automatically mean that eating the food will cause harm. Health risk assessments consider the chemical involved, the amount consumed and the level and duration of exposure.

Equally, the detection of a residue below an MRL doesn't mean that a food contains absolutely no pesticide, or that every possible question about long-term exposure has been answered.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand's monitoring and assessments generally indicate that pesticide residues in food are low and that dietary exposure is not expected to pose health concerns when residues comply with relevant standards.

The new investigation also raises questions about exposure to several different pesticides through the diet. This is an area where further monitoring and research are important, but it's worth distinguishing between the detection of multiple residues and evidence that those residues are causing harm.
 

Organic, Spray-Free Or Conventional: What's The Difference?

If the findings have prompted you to think more carefully about how your fruit and vegetables are grown, it's worth understanding the different options available.

Organic Produce

Organic farming focuses on growing food within a production system that restricts the use of synthetic agricultural chemicals, including many synthetic pesticides and fertilisers.

Certified organic growers must follow the requirements of their certification standard, which can include restrictions on chemical inputs, soil management, biodiversity and how crops are produced.

Organic doesn't necessarily mean completely pesticide-free. Some naturally derived pesticides and other approved treatments may be permitted, and organic produce can occasionally contain residues through environmental contamination or spray drift.

If you're looking for organic produce, check whether the grower or supplier is certified and which certification body they use.

Spray-Free Produce

Spray-free generally refers to produce grown without pesticide spraying, but the term doesn't have a single, universally enforced definition for Australian retail produce.

It's worth asking growers what they mean when they use the term. Do they avoid all pesticide sprays, only synthetic pesticides, or certain chemicals? Do they use other treatments or pest-management methods? Spray-free produce can also be a more budget-friendly alternative to certified organic options, as growers who aren't pursuing organic certification avoid the associated fees, audits and administrative costs.

Conventional Produce

Conventional farming can involve the use of registered pesticides to protect crops from pests and disease.

The use of pesticides doesn't automatically make conventional produce unsafe. Growers must follow the conditions of approved chemical use, including relevant withholding periods before harvest, so residues comply with Australian food standards.

Conventional fruit and vegetables can still be a nutritious and affordable choice, and they're an important part of a healthy diet.
 

Why Consider Shopping At Local Farmers Markets?

Farmers markets and local produce suppliers offer something that can be difficult to find in a supermarket: the opportunity to speak directly with the person growing your food.

If you're interested in reducing the amount of synthetic pesticides used in growing your produce, that conversation can help you make a more informed choice.

Ask whether the grower is certified organic, whether they use any pesticide sprays, how they manage pests and whether they have seasonal produce available from different growing methods.

Local produce isn't automatically organic or spray-free, and smaller farms can also use pesticides. The benefit is having the opportunity to find out more about the growing practices behind your food.

Shopping locally can also help support smaller growers and provide access to seasonal varieties that may not always be available in supermarkets.
 

How To Shop More Mindfully Without Blowing Your Grocery Budget

You don't need to replace everything in your shopping basket with organic produce to make more informed choices.
Here are a few practical ways to approach your next shop.

1. Start With The Produce You Buy Most Often
If there are particular fruit and vegetables you eat every day, you could start by looking into how they're grown and whether organic or spray-free alternatives are available at a price that works for you.

2. Use The Dirty Dozen As A Starting Point
If you're wondering which fruit and vegetables to prioritise when buying organic or spray-free, the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) annual Dirty Dozen list may be a useful place to start.

Based on US government pesticide residue testing, the 2026 Dirty Dozen identifies produce with higher pesticide residue scores, taking into account the number, concentration and toxicity-related measures of pesticides detected. Spinach, kale and other leafy greens, strawberries, grapes and nectarines were among the highest-ranked foods.

There's one important distinction for Australian shoppers, though. The list is based on American produce, growing practices and pesticide regulations, so it doesn't necessarily reflect what's being found on Australian farms.

Interestingly, strawberries and grapes were also among the produce flagged in Australia's recent pesticide investigation, although the Australian sample was much smaller.

If you're working with a limited grocery budget, you might choose to investigate organic or spray-free alternatives for some of these foods, particularly those you eat regularly. 

EWG also publishes a Clean Fifteen list, highlighting produce with lower pesticide residue scores in its US analysis. While these rankings aren't directly applicable to Australian produce, they offer another reference point if you're deciding where to prioritise your grocery budget.

3. Buy What's In Season
Seasonal produce can offer better value and more variety. Ask local growers what's currently being harvested, and build some of your meals around what's available.

4. Ask Questions At Farmers Markets
Speak with the growers about their pest-management practices. If you're looking for spray-free produce, ask what that means for their farm rather than relying on the label alone.

5. Look For Verified Organic Certification
If organic production is important to you, check the supplier's certification details. In Australia, certification for organic produce sold domestically isn't mandatory, so a certification claim is something worth verifying.

6. Wash Your Fruit And Vegetables
Washing your fruit and vegetables before eating them can help reduce pesticide residues, and research suggests that bicarb soda and vinegar solutions may be more effective than water alone for certain pesticides.

A 2017 study found that soaking apples in a solution of approximately one teaspoon of bicarb soda per two cups of water for 12–15 minutes effectively removed the surface residues of two pesticides tested. Other studies have also found benefits from vinegar solutions, although results vary depending on the produce, pesticide and concentration used.

It's important that no washing method can guarantee the removal of all pesticide residues, particularly those absorbed into the fruit or vegetable itself. 
 

Where To Find Organic And Spray-Free Fruit And Vegetables

If you're looking for a convenient way to shop for produce grown using organic or spray-free methods, there are a number of fruit and vegetable delivery services operating across Australia.

We've previously put together a guide to fruit and vegetable delivery boxes, featuring services that offer a mix of conventional, organic and spray-free produce.

We've revisited that guide to help you identify which services offer certified organic produce, which provide spray-free options and which have a mixed range.

Explore our guide to the best organic and spray free fruit and vegetable delivery boxes in Australia.

The recent findings are a reminder that it's worth asking questions about how our food is grown and how pesticide residues are monitored. Greater transparency from supermarkets, regulators and growers can help consumers make informed choices.

For now, keep eating your fruit and vegetables, wash them before eating and explore the growing options available to you. Choosing organic or spray-free produce where it suits your preferences and budget is one way to support different farming practices, without feeling that every item in your shopping basket needs to change overnight.


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