An alarming new report has lifted the lid on illegal pesticides found on popular items of fruit and vegetables sold at major Australian supermarkets, with at least a dozen examples including one punnet of strawberries containing almost 10 times the legal limit.

Pesticide Action Australia independently lab-tested 78 fruits and vegetables from the big three supermarkets for pesticide residue, with shocking results.

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“Nearly half of those samples contained at least one PFAS pesticide residue,” said Eleanor Davis from Pesticide Action Australia.

“And over half of those samples contained a residue of a pesticide that’s not approved in the European Union.”

The testing found 12 samples had pesticides that were either banned or violated acceptable limits. Australian-grown staples including apples, avocados, bananas and broccoli were among the produce tested.

Eleanor Davis from Pesticide Action Australia. Credit: 7NEWS

Federal Senator David Pocock is launching a Senate inquiry into Australia’s use of the chemical Paraquat, which is banned in 70 countries.

“Not surprised, really. We are very loose here in Australia with the way that we regulate chemicals,” Pocock said.

“We have a whole bunch of chemicals that are banned in places like Europe that are still being applied to things that are showing up in the grocery aisle.”

All three major supermarkets told 7NEWS they expect and maintain the highest food safety standards and conduct their own tests.

“We’re asking supermarkets and government to step up, to test more, to publish more,” Davis said.

The alarming new report revealed illegal pesticides on everyday fruit and vegetables from Australia's big three supermarkets. Credit: 7NEWS

AusVeg has moved to reassure consumers that locally grown vegetables are among the world’s safest, while Berries Australia says residue detected on strawberries poses no risk to human health.

However, consumers are being urged to wash fresh produce before eating it.

“I’m pushing for the government, for our regulators to take this more seriously so that Australians can have peace of mind when they’re putting food on the table for their kids,” Pocock said.