Mamavation Finds 12 Pesticides on Driscoll Strawberries
Mamavation reported that conventional driscoll strawberries from a Southern California grocery store tested positive for 12 pesticides prohibited in several countries. The sample also contained 8 PFAS-laden pesticides, and Dr. Craig Downs said fluorinated pesticides are a growing source of contamination in food and the environment.
Driscoll Strawberries Testing
Mamavation sent two boxes of Driscoll’s strawberries to an EPA-certified laboratory on Monday, May 4th, 2026, for screening of 500+ types of pesticides. The lab later reported residues of 12 different pesticides on the conventional berries, including chemicals prohibited in the European Union, Taiwan, Chile, Korea and Russia.
The same results found 8 PFAS-laden pesticides, which Mamavation described as PFAS or “forever chemicals.” For shoppers trying to reduce exposure, the report’s practical takeaway is narrow but direct: the testing focused on conventional fruit, while Mamavation advisors said organic strawberries are the better option for lowering pesticide and PFAS intake.
Craig Downs Review
Dr. Craig Downs, executive director of Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, reviewed the laboratory results and said, “Fluorinated pesticides are a growing source of PFAS contamination in the environment and on and in our foods.” He added, “There is debate with the U.S. EPA if single fluorinated pesticides are truly Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), but many of the fluorinated pesticides’ metabolites are long-lived to the point they are considered “Forever Chemicals.””
Downs also said, “These fluorinated pesticides also act like PFAS because they will accumulate in our bodies over the long-term, are associated with cancer risks, reproductive diseases, developmental diseases in children, and cause immune suppression.” He concluded, “It would be smart to try to completely avoid being exposed to them.”
Organic Strawberries Advice
Mamavation said its testing was a spot-check and that products and manufacturing aides can change without notice. It also said it cannot make predictions about brands and products it has not tested. The group said 37% of non-organic produce samples tested by the State of California had traces of PFAS pesticides.
For readers weighing what to buy now, the report’s clearest advice is to choose organic strawberries if the goal is to lower pesticide and PFAS consumption. The conventional Driscoll’s sample tested here showed residue on a widely sold brand, but the lab result does not describe every package on a shelf.
