Are strawberries a food to avoid due to pesticide residues?

Claim 1: “95% of strawberries in this study contained pesticides residues, more than twice the amount (on average) of other fruits and vegetables.”

Fact-check: While studies have found that strawberries tend to have more pesticide residues than other fruits, what most online claims omit is that these are generally below the Maximum Residue Limit.

When encountering the phrase "research shows that," the immediate priority must be to locate and examine the cited source. This practice is essential because interpretations shared on social media frequently rely on cherry-picking or misrepresentation of the original data. The report that is cited by the British government does indicate that most strawberry samples tested contained pesticides residues, but what is not mentioned here is that the same report noted that none of the samples tested had residues above the safety threshold. 

For more information about research practices refer to this Food Facts guide on how to spot misused research on social media. What can we find in relevant literature about this claim? 

Contextualising research on strawberries and pesticide residue levels

Studies worldwide consistently find that a large proportion of strawberries contain detectable pesticide residues, often with multiple types per sample. Now this might sound alarming, but let’s look closer at what the scientific data says on thresholds and safety levels related to our health. 

In many large trials, only a small percentage of samples exceed national or international maximum residue limits. When scientists want to know if strawberries are safe to eat in terms of pesticide residues, they collect large numbers of strawberries from farms and markets and test them in the lab. For example, one recent study in Turkey collected 245 strawberry samples over three years and tested them for 240 different pesticides. They found that about 62% of the strawberries had some pesticide residue, but only 6.5% had levels above the strict safety limits set by the European Union. The most common pesticides found were ones that are approved for use, and the amounts detected were much lower than what would be considered risky for health. Even when they calculated the total possible exposure for both adults and children, the results were far below the levels that would cause concern. This means that, even in a “worst-case” scenario, eating strawberries did not pose a health risk for the general population.

Other studies in different countries have found similar results. For instance, a study in China tested 335 strawberry samples and found that about 2% had pesticide levels above the national safety limits. Most strawberries had very low levels of residues, and the overall risk to people who eat them was considered minimal. Another study looked at both fresh strawberries and processed products like jam. It found that processing, such as making jam, can reduce pesticide residues even further. The risk assessments in these studies also showed that the amount of pesticides people might consume from eating strawberries is much lower than the amount that could cause harm.

To make these assessments, researchers use sensitive laboratory methods that can detect even tiny amounts of pesticides. They compare the results to safety thresholds like the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL), which is the highest level of a pesticide allowed on food, and to health-based limits like the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI), which is the amount you can eat every day over a lifetime without risk. The studies consistently show that, for strawberries grown and sold in Europe and the UK, pesticide residues are usually well below these safety limits. This means that, for most people, eating strawberries is safe with regard to pesticide residues (source, source, source).

Occasional exceedances: Some samples, especially in certain regions or seasons, do exceed MRLs, and specific pesticides (for example procymidone, cypermethrin) may occasionally pose higher risk, particularly for young children or with unusually high consumption (source, source, source). 

“Pesticide exposure through strawberry consumption poses no health risk. There is also no cause for concern regarding cumulative exposure to residues through strawberry consumption.” (Keklik et al., 2025)

Risk reduction: For those worried about the residues left on strawberries, there are some simple, practical tips to reduce pesticide residues. Washing and soaking can significantly reduce pesticide residues (source, source).

Tip: According to this study, processing strawberries by for example turning them into jam, reduces the residues up to 100%

Claim 2: “Strawberries are chemical bombs destroying your digestion.”

Fact-check: This claim doesn’t consider important context, such as the positive effects of strawberry consumption on the gut microbiome, and in what quantities pesticide residues might cause harm.

Let’s look at the concern raised in the Instagram video about whether the small amounts of pesticide residues found on strawberries could harm the helpful bacteria in our gut, known as the gut microbiome. The gut microbiome is important for digestion, immune health, and even our mood. Recent scientific studies have started to look at how pesticides in our food might affect these gut bacteria (source). 

Research shows that pesticides can, in some cases, change the balance of bacteria in the gut. For example, studies in both animals and humans have found that exposure to certain pesticides can lead to changes in the types and activities of gut bacteria. Some pesticides may reduce the number of beneficial bacteria or change the way these bacteria work, which scientists call "dysbiosis" (source, source, source). In one study, people who ate more foods with pesticide residues had changes in their gut bacteria and in the chemicals those bacteria produce, although the long-term health effects of these changes are still not fully understood.

However, it’s important to know that most of this research looks at general pesticide exposure, not specifically at the tiny amounts left on strawberries after washing and before eating. The studies often use higher doses of pesticides than what people would normally get from eating fruit. Also, the effects can depend on the type of pesticide, the amount, and the person’s own health and diet (source, source, source, source).

Some research has even found that our gut bacteria can help break down certain pesticides, possibly protecting us from their effects. There is also early evidence that eating strawberries themselves, because they are rich in fibre and plant compounds, can actually support a healthy gut microbiome.

Bottom line

In summary, while there is scientific evidence that pesticides can affect gut bacteria, it is not clear if the very low levels of pesticide residues found on strawberries after washing are enough to cause harm to the gut microbiome. More research is needed to know for sure, especially at the levels most people are exposed to through a normal diet.