Overview

• Öko-Test examined 21 green pestos and found that one third had no grade deduction for mineral oil, with Bio-Zentrale Pesto Verde and Rossmann’s Ener Bio Pesto alla Genovese rated very good.
• Laboratories detected MOSH in 14 products, half at strongly elevated levels, and MOAH in 12 products, with six exceeding European Commission–proposed MOAH limits.
• Edeka removed a batch of Edeka Bio Pesto alla Genovese from sale, and Tegut pulled its Tegut Pesto Verde despite meeting the MOAH guideline; both were rated insufficient.
• Conventional pestos contained up to five pesticide residues, including chlorantraniliprole and dimethomorph, which is no longer approved in the EU since 2024, with levels below legal limits but concerns about combined effects.
• Aldi Nord’s Cucina Pesto alla Genovese contained the plasticizer DiNP and received an overall rating of insufficient.