We went looking for the evidence. Here's what we found.
Australia has no consumer-facing produce pesticide program. No equivalent to the US Environmental Working Group's (EWG) Shopper's Guide. No coordinated annual testing across all states and retail channels. The data exists — fragmented across FSANZ, APVMA, state programs, FOI requests, academic studies — but until the recent Pesticide Action Australia report this information has never been compiled in one accessible place.
Lighten Your Load was created with Australians in mind. To inform rather than frighten. Everything here is sourced, caveated, and updated when new information comes to light. We always tell you what we don't know as clearly as we can so you can be informed better than ever before.
See the methodology →When Australia hasn't tested something, we say so — and explain why the gap itself is significant.
The guides are free. No paywall. No email gate. Printable PDFs are available for a small contribution to fund continued research.
We are not funded by organic food companies, supermarkets, or any food industry body. Our only funding is direct reader support.
Guides are reviewed when new Australian data is published, when major international studies are released, or when regulatory decisions change the picture.
Every guide is based on the best available Australian data, supplemented by international research where Australian data doesn't exist. All sources listed. All caveats stated.
The 12 Australian produce items with the highest evidence of pesticide contamination. Ranked by strength of Australian-specific evidence.
10 commonly eaten items that don't belong on the Dirty Dozen — but carry specific concerns worth knowing. Citrus, potatoes, ginger, garlic and more.
Produce items with the lowest evidence of pesticide risk in the Australian context. When conventional is generally a reasonable choice.
Grains, bread, oats, nuts, tea, coffee, dried fruit. What the Australian Total Diet Study actually found — and what it didn't look for.
What's in your clothing and textiles — and how to make more informed choices for your family and the environment.
Every ranking is based on the best available evidence, with a clear statement of confidence. We don't pretend the data is better than it is.
FSANZ Total Diet Studies, APVMA MRL register, National Residue Survey, FOI-obtained government data, Friends of the Earth AU, CHOICE, and state-based monitoring programs.
When Australian data doesn't exist, we use EWG (US), EFSA (EU), Canadian CFIA, and peer-reviewed research — and clearly label every such instance.
Where no residue data exists, we consider skin type, pest pressure, systemic vs. contact pesticide use, and post-harvest treatment practices.
Every item is rated by evidence strength. ★★★★ strong AU data. ★★★ reasonable. ★★ international proxy. ★ inference only. We never hide uncertainty.
Following standard testing practice, produce is washed or peeled before residue testing — so rankings reflect what reaches you when eating normally. Skins and peels may carry higher residues than the flesh. For example, banana skins carry post-harvest fungicide residues not reflected in the flesh ranking.