Association urges ”shift from fear to facts” on produce in response to EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) has released a statement raising concerns over the Environmental Working Group’s latest publication, the 2025 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce.
The Guide said that almost 60 per cent of samples of conventionally grown fruit and vegetables on its ’Clean Fifteen’ list had no detectable pesticide residues, while more than nine in ten samples of conventional, or non-organic, produce on its ‘Dirty Dozen’ list contained residues of potentially harmful pesticides.
However, the IFPA warned that the Guide was based on “unfounded rhetoric” that threatened farmers as well as the ultimate goal of increasing fresh produce consumption.
“The claims in this report are not only misleading – they’re dangerously counterproductive to our nation’s public health goals,” it stated.
”Fruits and vegetables are the foundation of a healthy diet and one of the most effective tools we have for preventing chronic, diet-related diseases.
”Yet, today, 90 per cent of Americans fall short of the recommended daily intake of these essential foods – a public health crisis we can and must urgently address,” the association noted.
“Does it make sense to discourage people from eating produce? This kind of unfounded rhetoric harms consumers and unfairly threatens the livelihoods of American farmers, who work tirelessly to grow safe, nutritious food for their communities.
”Baseless attacks on fruit and vegetable growers only undermine efforts to improve diets in a country where 70 per cent of what we eat is ultra-processed, and where chronic disease costs our economy more than US$1trn annually in healthcare and lost productivity,” IFPA continued.
“Federal agencies rigorously review crop protection tools through science-based processes to ensure their safety.
”The authors of this report know – but conveniently ignore – that the USDA’s Pesticide Data Program consistently finds that produce sold in the US meets or exceeds the EPA’s strict safety standards,” it outlined.
“Rather than sowing fear, we need a national, coordinated effort to increase fruit and vegetable consumption – and empower farmers to keep providing abundant, affordable, and safe produce for every American table.
“At IFPA, we remain committed to working alongside farmers, health professionals, and policymakers to build a food system that supports healthier communities and a thriving, resilient agricultural economy for all,” the Association added.
