A new study by the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (Naturskyddsföreningen) has revealed that three out of four conventionally grown foods contain pesticide residues, raising concerns about potential health risks from chemical mixtures. The organization tested seven types of food purchased from stores in the Stockholm area, analyzing 86 products total - 50 conventionally grown and 36 organic.
According to the study, 37 out of 50 conventionally grown food items contained residues from 32 different harmful pesticides. These included PFAS substances, chemicals harmful to bees, and substances suspected of causing cancer. In contrast, only 3 out of 36 organic products showed pesticide residues.
Ordinary food we buy should not contain a cocktail of pesticides
Karin Lexén, secretary general of Naturskyddsföreningen, expressed concern about what she called the 'cocktail effect' - the combination of different chemicals in food. 'Ordinary food we buy should not contain a cocktail of pesticides,' Lexén stated. 'But our review shows that this is often exactly what consumers get when they buy conventionally grown food.'
The worst results were found in apples, grapes, and wheat flour, where all tested samples contained at least one harmful substance. One apple tested contained seven different harmful chemicals.
But our review shows that this is often exactly what consumers get when they buy conventionally grown food
While individual chemical levels remained below established limits, Lexén emphasized that the health effects of chemical mixtures are not well understood. The organization is calling for supermarkets to increase organic offerings and lower profit margins on such products, and for policymakers to provide more support for farmers transitioning to organic methods.