The environment Apricots and strawberries show high pesticide residues in 2024
Food is tested for pesticide residues every year. Out of 405 of the 2024 samples analyzed, ten samples showed residues above the maximum permitted level, as a federal monitoring revealed.
26.01.2026, 11:47
SDA
Pesticide residues were detected in more than half (63%) of the 405 food samples taken in 2024. Of these, ten samples exceeded the maximum residue level (MRL), as revealed in the monitoring report published by the Federal Food and Veterinary Office (FSVO) on Monday.
Seven of the ten test samples were not legally compliant and therefore exceeded the statistically confirmed maximum residue level. Of these, 2024 apricots and strawberries were affected. Residues of the plant protection products captan, halosyfop, iprodione and spinosad were detected in the samples.
The maximum permitted residue level of plant protection products is set far more strictly than is necessary for health protection, a FSVO spokeswoman told the Keystone-SDA news agency on Monday. If the values are adhered to, the food can be consumed without risk according to current knowledge.
In addition to apricots and strawberries, other fruits such as apples, pears and cherries were tested in 2024. Samples were also taken from vegetables (carrots, courgettes, cauliflower, white cabbage, lettuce, potatoes), cereals (wheat flour) and vegetable oils (sunflower oil, rapeseed oil).
