Following a review by the NSW Food Authority and the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), the state government has confirmed there is no evidence that blueberries from northern NSW are unsafe to eat.
The EPA reviewed results from a 2024 research project that reported the presence of thiometon, a pesticide not registered for use in Australia, on store-bought blueberries from northern NSW.
Data from industry testing provider FreshTest for the same period as the research project, October and November 2024, showed no evidence of thiometon residue on any berries tested.
A further review of the 2024 research found that the testing methods and analysis used were not accredited for assessing fresh fruit such as berries, making the reported results unreliable.
The NSW Food Authority routinely tests food products for hygiene assessment, foodborne illness investigations, product verification and research. If a food safety risk is identified, affected products are recalled.
Consumers are advised to wash all fresh fruit and vegetables with cool tap water immediately before eating.
The NSW Food Authority will carry out further tests on retailed berries to confirm that thiometon is not present, while the EPA will continue compliance activities to ensure pesticides are used lawfully in the Mid to North Coast regions.