Bread debuts on 2025 Dirty Dozen list

The latest chemical residue data has been analyzed by Pesticide Action Network (PAN) UK and used to compile the organization’s annual Dirty Dozen list, designed to help inform public grocery purchasing decisions.

The top three ‘dirtiest’ positions are occupied by citrus fruit (tangerines, oranges and lemons), however in a change to usual proceedings this year’s summary extends beyond fruit and veg to include all food products of ‘non-animal origin’ which are most likely to contain two or more pesticide residues, therefore presenting greater risk to human health. As such, this year sees the inclusion of white and brown bread, occupying seventh position with 54% of samples containing multiple residues. PAN UK policy officer Nick Mole questions why pesticide cocktails have ‘been allowed to double’ in a staple food ‘that most of us eat at least once every day’. 

The organization believes that with the regulatory system addressing pesticides individually this ‘not only ignores the potential risks … associated with pesticide mixtures found in one item (an apple, for example) but also those found in one dish (such as a fruit salad), let alone an entire day’s worth of food’.

In the context of the UK’s heavy reliance on imports, PAN UK highlights that according to the most recent available government figures 55% of imported produce tested contained pesticide cocktails compared to 31% of UK foods, with 127 different pesticides found on imports versus 60 on domestic produce. 

“Imported food was 2.5 times more likely to contain pesticides above the safety limit than UK-grown food,” states the report. “There are major concerns over the capacity of English ports to … detect issues, particularly if food imports increase significantly under new trade deals. Those wanting to reduce their exposure to pesticides should aim to buy British whenever possible.” 

ORGANIC UK has welcomed the report as ‘an incredibly useful guide for us all’.    

By Rosie Greenaway, editor