A new European study reveals strawberries grown in Spain are among the least contaminated with pesticides in the entire European Union.
The analysis by PAN Europe and several NGOs examined strawberry samples from 11 countries. Across the EU, 88% of the berries tested positive for pesticide residues, and 58% contained so-called 'forever chemicals' known as PFAS.
Spain's results were significantly better. Testing detected only two pesticides in one conventional sample, both below the legal limit.
Organic strawberries from Spain and across Europe showed no detectable residues in any sample.
"Not only are organic strawberries free of pesticides, but so is a high proportion of those grown conventionally, which shows that Spain can and must farm without pesticides," said Kistiñe García of Ecologistas en Acción.
The report's authors argue these findings weaken the case for relaxing pesticide rules and call for stricter enforcement of existing regulations.