Driscoll's sued over "forever chemicals" in strawberries
The world's largest berry distributor, Driscoll's, faces a class-action lawsuit alleging its conventional strawberries are contaminated with eight types of PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals."
Driscoll's, the world's largest berry distributor, is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit filed by six shoppers in four states. The suit alleges that conventional strawberries sold by the company contain residues of eight specific per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as "forever chemicals."
Testing commissioned by consumer advocacy group Mamavation reportedly found that a carton of Driscoll's conventional strawberries, marketed as "finest," contained 12 pesticide residues, eight of which were identified as PFAS. The group noted that Driscoll's USDA organic strawberries did not test positive for any pesticide residues.
PFAS are known for their extreme persistence in the environment, taking potentially thousands of years to degrade. Health organizations, including the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, have linked these chemicals to various health concerns, such as increased risk of kidney and testicular cancer, liver damage, and immune system suppression.
The lawsuit claims that Driscoll's engaged in "greenwashing" by promoting environmentally friendly practices while allegedly using PFAS-laden pesticides. The plaintiffs assert they would not have purchased the strawberries or paid a premium price had they been aware of the alleged PFAS contamination.