EUROPEAN RESEARCH has revealed the percentage of food items with detectable pesticide residues has increased, The Independent reports.

More than 46,000 samples of fresh food were tested across Europe, and the number of items with residues above the maximum threshold was shown to have grown.

Spinach, beans, oranges, mandarins, peaches and nectarines were the items which most often exceeded maximum residue limits.

More than 20% of the British fruit, vegetables and cereals tested had residues of at least two pesticides in them.

Another report revealed that 43% of fruit, vegetables and cereals on sale in Britain contained pesticide residues, according to The Independent.

Slightly more than 1% had residue levels above the maximum safety limits.