A surprising percentage of produce from the nation’s largest supplier contains ‘forever’ pesticides
By Sandee Lamotte
Published on March 11, 2026.
A new investigation has revealed that nearly 40% of nonorganic fruits and vegetables grown in California contain traces of pesticides that are also PFAS, or “forever chemicals.” These chemicals, which take years to decades to break down in the environment, can cause health and environmental concerns. California supplies nearly half of the country's vegetables and over three-quarters of the fruits and nuts eaten in the US. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that there are nearly 15,000 types of fluorinated chemicals in existence today. Legacy PFAS have been linked to cancer, obesity, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, decreased fertility, liver damage, hormone disruption and damage to the immune system. The highest levels of fludioxonil were found on lemons, nectarines, pears, plums, blueberries and apricots.
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A surprising percentage of produce from the nation’s largest supplier contains ‘forever’ pesticides
Nearly 40% of nonorganic fruits and vegetables grown in California contain PFAS, or “forever chemicals," posing a significant public health and environmental risk.