Vegetables commonly used in a traditional British roast dinner may be produced using a wide range of pesticides, according to new analysis by environmental campaigners. Researchers from Greenpeace UK examined pesticide usage data collected by the Food and Environment Research Agency, focusing on a sample of UK farms growing staple produce used in everyday meals.
The analysis found that 102 different pesticides were used across crops, including onions, leeks, carrots, parsnips, potatoes, peas, swede, turnips and strawberries, over 2023 and 2024. Onions and leeks were associated with 43 different pesticides, while strawberries recorded 42. Carrots and parsnips followed with 40. Field potatoes were treated with 31, peas with 29, while swede and turnips had 20. Stored potatoes had the lowest number, with five pesticides recorded. Campaigners said the data also showed crops were repeatedly treated throughout the growing season, with some receiving dozens of applications.
EU-Banned Chemicals Found
Greenpeace highlighted that seven of the pesticides identified are banned in the EU due to links with health risks, including cancer and environmental harm to bees, birds, mammals and aquatic ecosystems. It also noted that some of the substances fall into the category of PFAS, often referred to as 'forever chemicals' because they persist in the environment for long periods and have been linked to health and ecological concerns.
Most samples were still within legal maximum residue levels (MRLs), which set the highest permitted amount of pesticide residue in food or animal feed. However, campaigners argue that these thresholds do not reflect cumulative exposure from other sources such as drinking water, food packaging and household products.
Greenpeace Calls for Action
Nina Schrank, from Greenpeace UK, said: “A Sunday roast and strawberries might feel like one of the most natural and traditionally British meals imaginable, but behind the scenes they’re produced using an astonishing cocktail of pesticides. Our countryside is being drenched in pesticides, with devastating consequences for bees, birds, butterflies, rivers and the soil. Fields that once hummed with wildlife are falling silent while agrochemical giants rake in enormous profits and farmers are trapped in a costly cycle of chemical dependency. That doesn’t strengthen food security - it makes it more fragile.” She added that while farmers face mounting pressures from rising costs and climate-related challenges, some are already adopting more sustainable methods. 'Another way' is possible, she said, with reduced reliance on chemicals and a shift towards nature-friendly farming.
The Government’s pesticide action plan currently targets a 10% reduction in pesticide use by 2030. Official figures also show that the total weight of pesticides applied to UK arable crops fell by 25% between 2018 and 2024. However, Greenpeace is calling for more ambitious action, including halving pesticide use by 2030 and cutting it by 80% by 2040.
Farming Industry Responds
Martin Lines, chief executive of the Nature Friendly Farming Network, said: “Many people will doubtless be shocked to learn how extensive pesticide use is within our conventional farming system, but it doesn’t have to be this way.” He added that better support for farmers could help reduce reliance on chemicals, but warned many remain locked into current practices due to policy and supply chain pressures. “We need stronger support, regulation and accountability across the whole system to take the pressure off farmers to produce more and more food from their land and instead support them to deliver food, nature protection and climate mitigation, all at the same time,” he said.
Environmental campaigner Dale Vince described the findings as concerning. “An incredible finding - never mind the roast dinner - our fruit and veg is polluted with over 100 pesticides. Industrial farming is out of control, we know these chemicals are toxic, that’s why they are used - but they are toxic not just to insects, but to humans too. They should not be allowed in the food chain.”
However, farming representatives stressed that UK produce remains safe. Paul Tompkins, deputy president of the National Farmers’ Union, said: “UK farmers produce food to some of the highest standards in the world. This country also has some of the tightest pesticide regulations anywhere, which aim to ensure that pesticides are only authorised for use if rigorous assessments show they do not harm human health or have unacceptable effects on the environment.” He added that the data cited by Greenpeace did not indicate food safety risks, pointing to official testing showing that 98% of food samples in 2024 contained no detectable pesticide residues.
Government Stance
A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said strict limits remain in place. “We place strict limits on pesticide residue levels in food, which are set after rigorous risk assessments to make sure levels are safe for consumers. These limits apply to both food produced domestically and imported from other countries. Our UK National Action Plan, published last year, sets out how we will support farmers, growers and other land managers to increase their use of sustainable practices to reduce potential harm from pesticides, while controlling pests and pesticide resistance effectively and protecting food security.”
