A new analysis of California produce has revealed that nearly 9 in 10 peaches and 8 in 10 strawberries contain PFAS residues, toxic chemicals that don't break down in the environment or your body. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit research organization, examined pesticide residue testing records from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation and found PFAS contamination on 37% of conventional produce samples across 78 different fruit and vegetable types .

What Are PFAS and Why Should You Care?

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a class of at least 16,000 human-made chemicals used to make products resist water, stains, and heat. They're called "forever chemicals" because they don't naturally break down in the environment or in your body; instead, they accumulate over time . These chemicals are linked to serious health problems including cancer, kidney disease, liver problems, immune disorders, and birth defects. Children face the highest risk from PFAS exposure, making their presence on fruits like grapes and strawberries especially concerning .

What makes this discovery particularly alarming is that PFAS are being used as active ingredients in pesticides to kill weeds and pests on crops. At least 60% of active ingredients federally approved for use in common pesticides in recent years fit the definition of PFAS, according to a 2023 analysis of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data .

Which Produce Is Most Contaminated?

The EWG analysis examined 930 produce samples and found contamination patterns that should concern families who regularly buy these fruits. The contamination rates were striking across multiple produce types:

• Peaches, Plums, and Nectarines: About 90% contained PFAS residues, making them among the most contaminated produce items tested
• Strawberries and Grapes: 80% showed PFAS contamination, which is particularly concerning since children commonly eat these fruits as snacks
• Multiple Produce Types: About 40 individual types of fruits and vegetables contained residues, meaning at least half of all produce varieties were treated with PFAS pesticides

The analysis found 348 samples, or 37% of all samples tested, showed PFAS residues . What's more, produce may contain more than one type of PFAS pesticide. For example, ten different PFAS pesticide products are approved for use on strawberries alone, yet the regulatory system only accounts for the risks of one pesticide at a time .

"Most consumers don't expect to find PFAS 'forever chemicals' on their strawberries; I think this information is shocking to most people," said Bernadette Del Chiaro, Senior Vice President of EWG's California Operations.

Bernadette Del Chiaro, Senior Vice President, EWG California Operations

How Are PFAS Getting Into Your Food and Water?

The problem extends beyond what's on your produce. PFAS chemicals don't stay confined to farmland; they persist in the environment and contaminate drinking water supplies. The city of Fresno, located in California's agricultural region, recently sued PFAS manufacturers over groundwater pollution that exceeded federal safety limits by 600%, affecting more than 120,000 homes . A previous EWG analysis found that 2.5 million pounds of PFAS are spread on California cropland annually, creating a cycle where these chemicals move from pesticides into soil, then into groundwater and drinking water systems .

"Here's a chemical that we in society at large are trying to get out of our environment and drinking water, and yet here on the flip side there is a regulatory agency permitting its use on crops," explained Bernadette Del Chiaro.

Bernadette Del Chiaro, Senior Vice President, EWG California Operations

What's the Real Health Risk From Multiple PFAS Exposures?

One of the most troubling aspects of PFAS pesticide use is that people are exposed to multiple types of these chemicals simultaneously, but regulators don't account for this reality. Varun Subramaniam, a report co-author and analyst with EWG, emphasized that the current regulatory approach has a significant blind spot .

"We know that PFAS can be dangerous, we know that pesticides can be dangerous, but we don't really know enough about this new understudied exposure route. We know people are exposed to cocktails of pesticides and literature shows that these combinations can often be more harmful, so that's a blind spot for the EPA at the moment," noted Varun Subramaniam.

Varun Subramaniam, Analyst, Environmental Working Group

The health impacts of PFAS pesticides remain largely unclear because they represent a relatively new exposure route that researchers are still studying. Beyond what industry-funded studies show, there's limited independent data on how these chemical combinations affect human health over time .

Steps to Reduce Your Family's PFAS Exposure

• Choose Organic When Possible: The EWG analysis focused on conventional, non-organic produce. Organic farming prohibits synthetic pesticides, including PFAS-based ones, making organic strawberries, grapes, and stone fruits safer choices if your budget allows
• Wash Produce Thoroughly: While washing won't remove all PFAS residues, it can reduce some surface contamination and other pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables before eating
• Vary Your Produce Selection: Rather than eating the same high-contamination fruits daily, rotate your choices to reduce cumulative exposure to PFAS and other pesticide residues
• Test Your Drinking Water: If you live in an agricultural area or near contaminated groundwater, consider having your well water tested for PFAS contamination by a certified laboratory
• Support Policy Changes: Advocate for stronger PFAS regulations in your state by contacting elected representatives about pesticide bans similar to those proposed in California

What's California Doing to Address This Problem?

California has introduced legislation that would address PFAS pesticide use through a phased approach. The proposed law would ban PFAS as active ingredients in pesticides by 2035, with an earlier deadline of 2030 for the 23 PFAS pesticides already banned by the European Union but still used in the United States . The legislation would also place a moratorium on approvals of new PFAS pesticides and require warning labels so farmers know when their pesticides contain these chemicals .

Maine and Minnesota have already passed similar PFAS pesticide bans, increasing the likelihood that California will follow suit. However, California Governor Gavin Newsom has shown susceptibility to industry pressure on PFAS issues; in December, he vetoed a bill that would have banned PFAS in cookware and other everyday products after receiving pressure from the cookware industry .

"We are providing a clear, responsible road map for our farmers to transition away from these persistent chemicals while re-establishing California as a global leader in food safety," stated California Assemblymember Nick Schultz, the bill's author.

Nick Schultz, California Assemblymember

The pesticide industry is expected to mount significant opposition to the legislation, but the growing body of evidence about PFAS contamination in food and water suggests that regulatory change is becoming inevitable. For now, families concerned about PFAS exposure should focus on choosing organic produce when possible, especially for fruits that children eat frequently, and staying informed about water quality in their area.