📚 Resources

The primary Australian government program that measures dietary exposure to pesticide residues. Analyses a market basket of commonly eaten foods to estimate actual consumer exposure. Used as the baseline for Australian-specific residue data across all three guides.

A landmark independent analysis of 12 years of FSANZ ATDS data (2000–2011) identifying which produce items carried the highest detection rates and chemical loads in Australia. One of the few systematic AU-specific rankings available and a foundational source for the Dirty Dozen and Tread Careful Ten.

Australia's leading independent consumer organisation. CHOICE has conducted and published investigations into pesticide residues in Australian-bought produce, including testing of imported garlic and other high-risk items. Used to supplement government data with independent consumer-focused findings.

Government program monitoring chemical residues in Australian agricultural produce, primarily for export compliance purposes. Provides data on what AU-grown produce carries at the farm gate, complementing the ATDS market basket data.

The federal body responsible for approving and reviewing agricultural chemicals in Australia. APVMA's proposed and completed suspension decisions — such as the 2025 dimethoate review affecting blueberries, raspberries and blackberries — are cited directly in the Dirty Dozen guide.

The US Environmental Working Group's annual analysis of USDA pesticide testing data, producing the widely-cited Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists. Used in our guides as international comparative data and specifically for chemicals such as PFAS (bifenthrin, fludioxonil) where AU-specific data is absent. US rankings are not directly applicable to Australia but provide relevant context where AU data gaps exist.

Freedom of Information documents obtained by The Guardian Australia revealing suppressed government pesticide testing data, including detections of fenthion at unacceptable levels in peaches and dimethoate up to 90× the MRL in strawberries (2013 data). This reporting uncovered data the government had not proactively disclosed.

2025 research from Southern Cross University finding dimethoate residues in Australian blueberries at levels exceeding safe daily intake estimates. A key piece of AU-specific evidence cited in the Dirty Dozen blueberry entry and context for the APVMA suspension proposal.

Australia's horticulture industry research and development body. Hort Innovation data on production practices and residue profiles for specific vegetable and citrus categories informs context in the Tread Careful Ten guide, particularly for snow peas and domestic growing practices.