Stockholm, May 28, 2026 – The Europe Today: A recent analysis by the Swedish National Food Agency has found that seven out of ten samples of Swedish strawberries contained low levels of at least one endocrine-disrupting substance, according to reporting by the newspaper Syre.
The random sampling detected traces of the fungicides fludioxonil and cyprodinil, both of which have been classified as endocrine-disrupting substances by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). However, the detected levels were well below the regulatory limits established to protect consumer health.
Toxicologist Anneli Widenfalk of the Swedish Food Agency said the findings do not indicate any health risk for consumers.
“Therefore, I feel quite confident in saying that there is no risk of endocrine-disrupting effects for consumers,” she told Syre.
Despite these assurances, some researchers have expressed concern over the presence of such chemicals in food products.
Joëlle Rüegg, professor of organismal biology at Uppsala University, said the findings remain troubling from a precautionary standpoint.
“If you’re going to use the precautionary principle, you don’t want any of these chemicals on your strawberries,” she said.
The findings have sparked renewed discussion in Sweden over pesticide use in agriculture and the balance between food safety regulations and consumer expectations regarding chemical residues in fresh produce.
