Berries are one of the healthiest, most delicious snacks out there.
Packed with antioxidants, low in sugar, and kid-friendly — it’s no wonder Aussies are eating more berries than ever before.
But here’s the not-so-sweet side: a chemical called dimethoate is commonly sprayed on berries in Australia, and the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is now reviewing whether it’s safe to keep using.
Why The Sudden Review?
Berry consumption in Australia has skyrocketed. The APVMA says that while dimethoate residues on berries are technically “within safe limits,” those limits were set when we were eating far fewer berries. Now that families are eating handfuls every day, the regulator is rethinking the safety margins.
What is dimethoate, anyway?
Dimethoate is an organophosphate insecticide — the same chemical group linked to nervous system effects in humans and wildlife. It’s been used for decades in Australia to keep fruit fly and other pests at bay.
It’s cheap, it works, and it’s widely sprayed… which is exactly why it’s under the microscope.
What does this mean for supermarket berries?
If you’re grabbing a punnet of blackberries, raspberries, or blueberries from Coles or Woolies, there’s a good chance they’ve been treated with dimethoate at some point.
The APVMA is proposing new rules, including a 14-day withholding period between spraying and harvesting. Growers say that could make it almost impossible to use dimethoate on berries, because these fruits are harvested every few days.
The bigger picture
Dimethoate isn’t just on berries. It’s used across a wide range of fruit and veg in Australia — from stone fruit to citrus. So while berries are in the headlines today, this review highlights a much bigger conversation about how much pesticide residue ends up in our everyday food.
What can you do?
-
Wash your produce properly. A quick rinse under the tap won’t remove pesticide residues.
-
Look for low-tox solutions. Devices like Crop DeTox use electrolysis to break down pesticide residues like dimethoate, as well as bacteria and viruses, right in your kitchen sink.
-
Stay informed. Reviews like this one are a reminder to keep an eye on what regulators are finding — and to keep asking questions about what’s on (and in) our food.
Final word
Berries will always be a healthy choice — but with chemicals like dimethoate under review, it’s clear that “just wash them under the tap” isn’t enough anymore. If you want peace of mind about what your family’s really eating, it pays to go one step further.