What to know about chemical levels on Driscoll's berries

A CBC News report examines concerns raised in a whistleblower lawsuit alleging that some Driscoll's berry shipments to Canada contained pesticide levels above Canadian standards. The article focuses on what consumers should know about the claims and the chemicals involved. Experts cited in the story say that the berries in a typical refrigerator from the relevant shipment window would be unlikely to still be present, and that any residue on produce can decline over time. They also note that eating a small amount of berries with higherthanpermitted residue would be unlikely to cause immediate harm, though workers handling the crops may face greater exposure risks. The article identifies the pesticides as bifenthrin, iprodione and captan, and explains that washing berries may reduce residue only slightly because of their delicate surface. It also notes that Driscoll's says it has adjusted its controls to meet Canadian standards and denies knowingly shipping unsafe product.