The 'dirty dozen' supermarket fruit and vegetables that were found to have the most 'forever chemicals': A-list nutritionist Gabriela Peacock reveals how you can reduce the risks

The 'dirty dozen' supermarket fruit and vegetables that were found to have the most 'forever chemicals': A-list nutritionist Gabriela Peacock reveals how you can reduce the risks By Anna Maxted Published: 11:59, 17 July 2024 | Updated: 11:59, 17 July 2024 e-mail View comments Eating a bowl of fresh strawberries is such a simple, healthy pleasure. Or rather, it was until a recent alarming report revealed them to be top of the 'dirty dozen' fruit and vegetables on sale in our supermarkets. Analysing the latest government data, The Pesticide Action Network UK found that 95% of strawberries, organic or not, contain PFAS pesticides – also known, appetite-crushingly, as 'forever chemicals' because once consumed, there's no getting rid of them.

There were found to be PFAS pesticides in 95 per cent of strawberries PFASs, or Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been linked to health issues including cancer , high cholesterol, reduced kidney function, thyroid disease, low fertility , repressed immune system and low birth weight in babies. It's disturbing news – especially as the other 'dirty' 11 include favourites like grapes (61% of samples contained PFASs), cherries (56%) spinach (42%), tomatoes (38%), peaches and nectarines (38%), cucumber (22%), apricots (20%), beans (15%), spices (8%), cabbage (7%), and lettuce (7%). THE 'DIRTY DOZEN' FRUIT AND VEG Strawberries (95% PFASs) Grapes (61%) Cherries (56%) Spinach (42%) Tomatoes (38%) Peaches and nectarines (38%) Cucumber (22%).