Your Strawberries Have a Forever Chemical Problem and It Is Bigger Than You Think

If you picked up strawberries at the grocery store recently, there is a real chance they came with something you did not order: PFAS, the synthetic chemicals scientists call “forever chemicals” because they almost never break down.

According to The Guardian, a new Environmental Working Group analysis found PFAS pesticide residues on 37% of conventionally grown California produce tested. Out of 930 samples covering 78 types of fruits and vegetables, 348 came back contaminated. California supplies more than half the nation’s produce. So this is not just a California story. It is a national one.

The numbers get worse when you zoom in. More than 90% of nectarines, plums and peaches tested positive. Grapes and cherries showed contamination rates of 80% or higher. Strawberries carried residues of 10 different PFAS pesticides on individual samples. California farmers apply an estimated 2.5 million pounds of PFAS pesticides across the state every single year. That goes into the soil, the water, and eventually onto your plate.

PFAS have been linked to serious health concerns including certain cancers, immune suppression, decreased fertility and developmental harm in children. They are called forever chemicals for a reason: the carbon-fluorine bond at their core is one of the strongest in chemistry. They do not go away. They build up in the environment and in our bodies over time.

The good news is that certified organic produce prohibits PFAS pesticides entirely. Washing conventional produce with water also helps reduce surface residues. Some vegetables like sweet potatoes, mushrooms, avocados and cauliflower showed no detectable PFAS in these tests.

Go organic when you can, especially for the most contaminated crops. Your body and the planet will thank you.

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