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Driscoll's Accused of Shipping Pesticide-Laced Berries to Canada
26 Sep
Summary
- Millions of pounds of Driscoll's berries allegedly shipped to Canada with high pesticide levels.
- A whistleblower lawsuit claims the company attempted to cover up the non-compliant shipments.
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency found chemical levels above legal limits in several inspections.
Millions of pounds of Driscoll's berries are accused of being shipped to Canada with pesticide levels exceeding legal safety limits, according to a whistleblower lawsuit filed by former employee David Harada.
Harada, who managed food safety and compliance for Driscoll's in the U.S. and Canada, claims that approximately 50 percent of shipments to Canada between 2022 and 2024 contained fruit with non-compliant pesticide residues.
He reported these issues internally starting in 2022, alleging that his concerns were dismissed and he felt retaliated against for speaking up.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed it inspected Driscoll's berries between 2022 and 2024 and found chemical levels above Canadian limits, including bifenthrin, iprodione, and captan.
Despite these findings, the CFIA stated that the inspections did not result in recalls, and corrective actions were implemented. Some investigations were triggered by consumer complaints of suspected illness or chemical taste, though a definitive link to the berries could not be established.
Driscoll's has denied the allegations, asserting they responded appropriately to Mr. Harada's concerns and acted in good faith, never knowingly shipping unsafe products.
Experts noted that occasional exceedances of residue limits might not pose an immediate health risk, but long-term cumulative exposure to various toxins is a concern.
