A recent investigation has raised fresh concerns about food safety in Europe, after banned pesticides were discovered in everyday supermarket products. The findings, reported by the Austrian newspaper Kurier on May 19, 2026, are based on a study conducted by the consumer organization Foodwatch.
According to the report, tests carried out on 64 food items across Austria, Germany, France, and the Netherlands revealed that 10 products contained traces of pesticides that are not approved in the European Union. In total, 30 such residues were identified. Even more worrying, four of these products exceeded the legal safety limits set by EU regulations.
The tested items included common kitchen staples such as rice, tea, and spices, foods many people consume daily without a second thought. Foodwatch has called on authorities to immediately remove the affected products that surpass legal limits from store shelves.
“Many pesticides are banned in the EU for good reason,” said Markus Linkeseder of Foodwatch Austria. “They are linked to serious health risks and can harm our soil, water, and biodiversity. It is unacceptable that their residues still end up in our food.”
Paprika powder stood out as particularly contaminated. One product, Kotányi Paprika Edelsüß Spezial, showed seven different pesticide residues, making it the most heavily affected. Other paprika brands, including S-Budget and Le Gusto, also contained multiple residues.
Green tea products also raised alarm. Every sample tested, including brands such as Spar, Twinings, and Westminster, contained at least two banned pesticides.
Foodwatch warned that these findings point to major gaps in Europe’s food safety system. The group is urging governments, retailers, and producers to take stronger responsibility to protect consumers.
A key issue highlighted in the report is what Foodwatch calls the “pesticide boomerang.” While certain harmful chemicals are banned within the EU, they can still be produced and exported abroad. Through imported foods, these same substances can return to European markets.
As concerns grow, Foodwatch also warned that upcoming EU policy changes could weaken existing food safety protections instead of strengthening them.
