Source: The New Lede, 3/11/26
'California farming has a PFAS problem, with traces of “forever chemicals” from pesticides found on 37% of nearly a thousand samples of the state’s conventionally grown produce, according to a new analysis of 2023 data from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR). The analysis, published March 11 by the Environment Working Group (EWG), found residue of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on 40 types of fruits and vegetables. Individual pieces of produce often contained multiple types of PFAS chemicals, with residues of 10 different PFAS found on strawberries, and over 90% of nectarines, plums and peaches testing for fludioxonil, a PFAS pesticide considered an endocrine disruptor by the European Food Safety Authority.'