A new peer-reviewed study suggests that diets high in certain fruits and vegetables known to carry more pesticide residues may lead to higher levels of these chemicals in the human body.

The research, conducted by scientists at the Environmental Working Group, found that people who frequently consume produce such as strawberries, spinach and bell peppers tend to have higher pesticide levels in their urine compared with those who mainly eat fruits and vegetables with lower residue levels.

When pesticides are applied to protect crops, small amounts can remain on or in food products. These remnants are known as pesticide residues.

To safeguard consumers, the European Union sets strict limits on how much residue is allowed in food. These limits, called maximum residue levels (MRLs), define the highest amount of pesticide that can legally be present in fruits, vegetables and other products.

Food sold in the EU — whether grown within the bloc or imported — is regularly tested for these residues. Each year, authorities across the EU analyse more than 100,000 food samples to monitor compliance with safety standards.

Pesticides have been linked in previous research to health concerns including cancer, reproductive problems, hormone disruption and nervous system damage in children. Because traces of these chemicals are often found on produce, diet may be a significant source of exposure.

The findings reinforce that what we eat directly affects the level of pesticides in our bodies

Alexis Temkin, Ph.D., vice president for science at EWG and lead author of the study

“Eating produce is essential to a healthy diet, but it can also increase exposure to pesticides.“

The researchers observed that people reporting higher consumption of produce known to carry more pesticide residues had significantly higher pesticide levels in urine samples. The findings suggest everyday food choices may play a larger role in pesticide exposure than many people realise.

“This study builds on previous work showing that certain fruits and vegetables are a major route of pesticide exposure for millions of Americans,” said Temkin. “Young children and pregnant people are particularly susceptible to the harms from exposure.”

The study was published in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health.

To carry out the analysis, researchers combined several datasets. They used pesticide residue data collected by the United States Department of Agriculture between 2013 and 2018 and linked it with dietary surveys and urine biomonitoring results from 1,837 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between 2015 and 2016.

These datasets represent the most recent years with extensive pesticide monitoring. According to the researchers, biomonitoring data from NHANES are currently available only through 2018.

The authors say the findings may help guide future research into how long-term dietary exposure to pesticides could affect human health.

09.03.2026.