A new investigation into fruit and vegetables sold by Australia’s major supermarket chains has detected hundreds of pesticide residues, including chemicals that have attracted international concern.
However, Australians may not need to abandon their favourite produce just yet. A leading dietitian says the headline findings require important context.
Women’s health dietitian and mother of two Leanne Ward has responded to the research, explaining what it means for Australian households and outlining seven straightforward changes she is making in her own kitchen.
The results were published in Australia’s Residue Report 2026, produced by Pesticide Action Australia. Researchers tested 78 samples spanning 13 widely purchased fruits and vegetables sourced from Aldi, Coles and Woolworths in five capital cities.
In total, the testing identified 201 pesticide residues linked to 54 separate pesticides. Four samples were found to contain residues above Australia’s legal maximum limits.
The report’s most troubling claim was that 44 per cent of samples contained pesticides it classified as PFAS—chemicals commonly known as “forever chemicals” because they can persist in the environment.
Despite the concerns raised by the report, Leanne said Australians should not be scared away from eating fresh produce.
“My first thought wasn’t as a dietitian. It was as a mum standing in my kitchen with a punnet of strawberries in my hand, thinking, so what on earth am I meant to feed my family now?” she wrote on her Substack.
A new report examining everyday fruit and vegetables sold at Australia’s biggest supermarkets has uncovered hundreds of pesticide residues, including chemicals that have raised concerns overseas
Women’s health dietitian and mother-of-two Leanne Ward has weighed in on the controversial new research, revealing what the results actually mean for Australian families and the seven simple changes she’s making in her own kitchen
What the pesticide report found
In June 2026, researchers purchased 78 samples of apples, avocados, bananas, blueberries, broccoli, capsicum, cucumbers, grapes, lettuce, potatoes, rockmelon, strawberries and tomatoes.
The produce was bought from Aldi, Coles and Woolworths stores in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, before being delivered to an independent NATA-accredited laboratory on the same day.
Testing identified 201 pesticide residues from 54 different pesticides, equivalent to an average of approximately 2.6 residues per sample.
Four samples exceeded Australia’s maximum residue limits, including a strawberry sample with a residue measured at 9.5 times the legal limit and a grape sample at 5.5 times the limit.
The report also found that 56 per cent of samples contained at least one pesticide not approved for use in the European Union.
Meanwhile, 44 per cent contained pesticides the report classified as PFAS.
These chemicals have attracted growing scrutiny because certain members of the broader PFAS family can persist in the environment, although the classification of some fluorinated pesticides as PFAS remains a subject of scientific and regulatory debate.
The findings come from Australia’s Residue Report 2026, which tested 78 samples of 13 popular fruits and vegetables purchased from Aldi, Coles and Woolworths across five Australian capital cities
Among the findings were 201 pesticide residues involving 54 different pesticides, with four samples exceeding Australia’s legal maximum residue limits
Leanne acknowledged that the report adopted a broad definition of PFAS, meaning the figure shouldn’t be interpreted as proof that almost half of Australia’s fruit and vegetables contain the same hazardous chemicals.
She also pointed out that the findings represent a relatively small snapshot of supermarket produce, rather than a comprehensive picture of Australia’s entire food supply.
Importantly, the report itself acknowledges that its percentages describe only the samples tested and should not be treated as national averages.
The extra details consumers need to know
According to Leanne, one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding pesticide testing is the assumption that exceeding a legal residue limit automatically makes a food dangerous to consume.
Maximum residue limits, or MRLs, are regulatory thresholds that specify how much of a pesticide residue is permitted to remain on food when agricultural chemicals are used according to approved practices.
Actual health risks depend on several factors, including the chemical involved, the amount consumed and the frequency and duration of exposure.
With just 78 samples across 13 food categories, the findings cannot establish how common particular pesticide residues are across all Australian supermarkets.
Despite the findings, Leanne is adamant that avoiding fruit and vegetables altogether would be the wrong response. Now she always soaks her produce in bicarbonate of soda and water to effectively remove up to 96 per cent of pesticides from her food
However, Leanne believes the report raises legitimate questions about the need for more transparent, up-to-date monitoring.
She noted that the last official Australian government dietary exposure testing she referenced was conducted using foods purchased in 2013 and 2014.
Although that testing generally found dietary exposure below relevant health-based guidance values, she argued that more recent information would provide greater reassurance for consumers.
Pesticide Action Australia has also called for greater transparency from supermarkets and government, along with support for growers to reduce reliance on agricultural chemicals.
Why you shouldn’t stop eating fruit and vegetables
Despite the findings, Leanne is adamant that avoiding fruit and vegetables altogether would be the wrong response.
In fact, she believes the far greater nutritional concern for Australian families is how little fresh produce many people already consume.
Only 6.5 per cent of Australian adults eat the recommended amount of vegetables, according to a statistic highlighted by Leanne.
And the health benefits of eating more fruit and vegetables are supported by extensive research.
She pointed to a major review by Imperial College London, which pooled findings from 95 studies and found that consuming approximately 10 portions of fruit and vegetables daily was associated with a 31 per cent lower risk of premature death.
Scrub instead of peel – Leanne also suggested washing and scrub apples, potatoes and cucumbers under running water to remove dirt and some residues while preserving fibre-rich skins
Higher consumption was also associated with reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, stroke and certain cancers.
The Mediterranean diet, widely studied for its potential health benefits, similarly places vegetables, fruit, legumes and wholegrains at the centre of everyday eating.
Rather than overhauling her family’s grocery shopping or switching exclusively to expensive organic food, she’s focusing on seven manageable habits.
Despite the alarming findings, Leanne insists there’s no need to overhaul your entire kitchen or spend a fortune on organic groceries.
Instead, she has encouraged families to start with one manageable change, whether that’s soaking produce in bicarbonate of soda or switching to glass containers.
Most importantly, she added that Australians shouldn’t let fears about pesticides discourage them from eating fruit and vegetables.
Fresh, frozen and tinned produce all count, and the well-established health benefits of eating plenty of fruit and vegetables far outweigh the temptation to avoid them altogether.
What the supermarkets are saying
Pesticides are widely used in agriculture to protect crops, maintain food supplies, reduce waste and support farm productivity.
Product approvals and maximum residue limits are overseen by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). State and territory authorities investigate suspected misuse and residue breaches.
When asked by Daily Mail, Coles, Woolworths and Aldi all stated they follow Australian laws for all fresh produce.
‘Food safety is our highest priority at Coles, and we expect all fresh produce suppliers to meet strict food safety requirements and comply with applicable Australian regulations,’ a Coles spokesperson said.
‘All fresh produce supplied to Coles must come from certified growers who follow strict food safety requirements on pesticide use and when produce can be harvested.
‘Coles regularly tests a range of fresh produce for pesticide residues throughout the year and has been doing so for decades.’
An Aldi spokesperson told the Daily Mail the supermarket ‘requires its fresh produce suppliers to meet recognised food safety standards’.
‘Suppliers undertake regular testing, with fresh produce items required to comply with all standards,’ they said.
‘In addition to supplier testing, ALDI conducts risk-based surveillance testing as part of its food safety and quality assurance program.’
It is understood Woolworths follows the strictest food safety standards and ensures full compliance with legislative requirements set by Food Standards Australia New Zealand and the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.
All primary suppliers and growers are independently audited under the Harmonised Australian Retailer Produce Scheme, which mandates residue testing and agricultural standards.
In addition, the technical teams conduct risk-based testing, farm site inspections, and work closely with state food safety regulators to ensure produce integrity.