European fruit with traces of most toxic pesticides ‘up 53% in nine years’

Analysis of nearly 100,000 samples found residues in a third of apples and half of blackberries

Contamination of fresh fruits by the most hazardous pesticides has dramatically increased in Europe over the past decade, according to a nine-year study of government data.

A third of apples and half of all blackberries surveyed had residues of the most toxic categories of pesticides, some of which have been linked to illnesses including cancer, heart disease and birth deformities.