Overview

• Stiftung Warentest examined 12 strawberry varieties for around 900 pesticides and found no residues exceeding safety thresholds.
• Bio strawberries recorded the lowest pesticide levels, with multiple samples showing no detectable traces.
• Budget options from Aldi Nord, Edeka and Netto Marken-Discount were all rated very low in pesticide contamination.
• Imported berries from Spain, Greece and Italy had similar residue levels to domestic fruit, though homegrown strawberries offer better flavor and a smaller carbon footprint.
• Consumers can further reduce trace pesticides by washing strawberries thoroughly, soaking them in a baking soda solution and removing the green tops afterwards.