Danish apples have the fewest pesticide residues in major European test

Apples are one of Danes’ favorite fruits, and there is now good news for those who prefer locally grown varieties for their fruit bowl.
In a major European test, Danish conventional apples performed better than the rest if you want to avoid pesticide residues.

Two out of the five Danish apples tested were free from pesticide residues. In the three apples where residues were found, there were fewer substances present and in lower amounts than in the other apples included in the study.

In total, only 4 out of the 59 apples were free from pesticide residues - and two of these were Danish. The remaining two residue-free apples came from Belgium and Italy.

The test results are consistent with annual spot checks carried out by the Danish authorities. In 2024, pesticide residues were found in 76 percent of conventional Danish apples, compared to 96 percent in foreign apples. In 2023, residues were found in 55 percent of the Danish apples tested and in 88 percent of the foreign apples.

What we found in Danish apples

In the three Danish apples that were not free from pesticide residues, we found various unwanted chemicals:

• Cyprodinil: A fungicide assessed as an endocrine disruptor by the European Food Safety Authority. The substance may be phased out, as this assessment will be included when authorities revisit its approval at the end of 2026
   
• Flonicamid: Belongs to the group of PFAS pesticides that can degrade into TFA (trifluoroacetic acid), which may contaminate groundwater. As of December 31, 2025, the substance is no longer permitted for use in Denmark.
   
• Fludioxonil: A fungicide assessed as an endocrine disruptor by the European Food Safety Authority. The substance may be phased out when authorities revisit its approval at the end of 2026. Fludioxonil also belongs to the PFAS pesticide group. However, it is not covered by the Danish ban on PFAS pesticides because it is not considered to degrade into TFA. Nevertheless, the substance may still contribute to PFAS pollution in the environment through both production and spraying.
   
• Pyrimethanil: A fungicide for which EFSA has identified potential risks that require further investigation in relation to both health and the environment.

Individual apples are not harmful

Although many conventional apples contain pesticide residues, this does not mean that the apples themselves are unhealthy or unsafe to eat. The vast majority of findings are below the authorities’ established maximum limits and are therefore considered safe to consume.

However, it may still be a good idea to minimize your intake of pesticide residues, as you are also exposed to unwanted chemicals in many other contexts - from indoor environments to personal care products.

Total exposure may be a concern. This is known as the cocktail effect.

You can reduce your intake of pesticides from food by:

• Choosing organic foods
• Choosing Danish-produced fruits and vegetables over imported ones
• Eating a varied diet

When you choose organic products, you also help protect the environment and groundwater from pesticide contamination.

More and more toxic pesticides in foreign apples

In addition to Danish apples, the test analyzed apples from Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Croatia, Luxembourg, Poland, Switzerland, Spain, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Hungary.

In several cases, foreign apples contained multiple pesticides in the same sample. In Luxembourg, for example, there were on average five pesticides per apple – and in Hungary, the average was four substances per apple.

Samples from the Czech Republic and Luxembourg included apples containing as many as seven different pesticides.

In 36 out of the 59 samples, the active substance captan was detected – a fungicide suspected of being carcinogenic. It is also highly toxic to aquatic organisms. None of these samples were Danish.

In 23 out of the 59 samples, fludioxonil was detected, which was also found in one Danish apple.

In 21 out of the 59 samples, neurotoxic pesticides were identified – substances that may harm the nervous system and brain development. None of these samples were Danish.

Danish apples are declining in market share

Although many apple varieties can be grown in Denmark, only one in three apples sold in Danish stores is locally produced. According to data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, this share is also declining.

In 2018, Statistics Denmark reported that Danish apple production had fallen by two-thirds over the previous 40 years.

Jan Jager, an apple grower and chair of the Apple Club at Dansk Gartneri, says that this negative trend has unfortunately not reversed since 2018:

“Danish apple production is still declining – and it becomes a downward spiral, because producing less also puts us at a disadvantage,” says Jan Jager.

He also explains that Danish producers’ ability to supply apples grown with low pesticide use is creating challenges. Danish apple growers are finding it harder to gain access to newer, less harmful pesticides because the relatively small Danish market is less attractive to the chemical industry.

He therefore hopes more consumers will choose Danish apples – also for the sake of biodiversity:

“When we are out pruning the apple trees, we find almost a bird’s nest in every row. You don’t see that in a wheat field,” says Jan Jager.

Maja Effersøe Khan, food policy advisor at The Danish Consumer Council THINK, also encourages consumers to choose Danish apples from supermarket shelves:

“There are many benefits to eating locally produced foods, including apples. In addition to the generally lower use of pesticides, you may also experience a completely different level of taste and freshness when apples do not need to be transported as far,” she says, adding that organic products are generally the best choice if you want to reduce your intake of pesticide residues.