EPA Bans Chlorpyrifos on Most Food Crops Starting July 2025

A neurotoxic pesticide that was once sprayed on more than 60 food crops in the United States is now illegal to use on most of them. On July 1, 2025, the Environmental Protection Agency's restriction on chlorpyrifos took full effect, limiting the chemical's agricultural use to just 11 approved crops and eliminating allowable residue levels on everything else.

The move represents an approximately 70% reduction in chlorpyrifos use compared to historical trends, according to Chemical & Engineering News. For millions of American families, particularly those with young children, it removes a documented neurodevelopmental hazard from the vast majority of the food supply.

What Is Chlorpyrifos and Why Does It Matter?

Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate insecticide that has been used in American agriculture since the 1960s. It kills pests by disrupting their nervous systems. The problem is that it affects human nervous systems too, and children are especially vulnerable.

Research has consistently linked chlorpyrifos exposure to adverse neurodevelopmental effects in children, including learning disabilities and behavioral disorders. Environmental groups have spent years pushing for stricter regulation, emphasizing concerns about what Chemical & Engineering News described as "preventable learning disabilities and behavioral disorders."

Before the EPA acted, chlorpyrifos was permitted on more than 60 food crops sold in grocery stores across the country. That meant residues of a chemical known to harm developing brains could legally be present on a wide range of fruits, vegetables, and grains that families purchased every week.

What the EPA's Restriction Actually Does

According to the EPA's official update, chlorpyrifos is now restricted from use on all food crops except 11 specifically approved crops. Those 11 crops are:

• Alfalfa
• Apple
• Asparagus
• Tart cherry
• Citrus (oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit)
• Cotton
• Peach
• Soybean
• Strawberry
• Sugar beet
• Wheat (spring and winter varieties)

The EPA notes that these 11 crops represented approximately 55% of agricultural chlorpyrifos usage from 2014 to 2018, meaning the restriction eliminates the chemical from crops that accounted for the other 45% of use.

Previously registered chlorpyrifos products could still be used on food crops through June 30, 2025, under existing stock provisions. As of July 1, 2025, that window closed. According to the EPA's FAQ page, "no one in the U.S. is allowed to legally use chlorpyrifos on any crops other than the 11."

Technically, this is a restriction and tolerance revocation rather than a complete ban. Chlorpyrifos remains legal for use on those 11 food crops and for non-food applications. But for consumers standing in a grocery store, the practical effect is clear: the chemical can no longer be used on the majority of food products on the shelves.

The Long Road to Regulation

The EPA's action did not happen overnight. Chlorpyrifos has been under regulatory scrutiny for well over a decade, with environmental and public health groups repeatedly petitioning for a full ban. The chemical was banned for most residential use in 2000, but agricultural use continued largely unrestricted for another 25 years.

In December 2024, the EPA formally proposed banning chlorpyrifos on most food crops, as reported by Chemical & Engineering News (a publication of the American Chemical Society). The proposal moved through the regulatory process and took effect on July 1, 2025.

The 70% reduction in use that resulted is substantial, but advocates have noted that the restriction does not go far enough. Children who consume apples, strawberries, citrus fruits, and wheat-based products (including bread and cereal) may still be exposed to chlorpyrifos residues, since those crops remain on the approved list.

Which Foods Are Affected?

For shoppers, the practical breakdown is straightforward.

Foods where chlorpyrifos is now banned: All produce and grains not on the 11-crop list. This includes common items like tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, corn, rice, grapes, berries (other than strawberries), lettuce, carrots, potatoes, and dozens of other fruits and vegetables. Any residues of chlorpyrifos detected on these foods would now be in violation of EPA tolerances.

Foods where chlorpyrifos may still be present: Apples, strawberries, peaches, citrus fruits, asparagus, tart cherries, soybeans (and soy-derived products), wheat-based foods (bread, pasta, cereal, crackers), sugar beet-derived sweeteners, and alfalfa (primarily relevant for animal feed). Parents feeding young children should be aware that several of these crops are staples in children's diets.

What This Means for Families

The chlorpyrifos restriction is one of the more consequential pesticide regulatory actions in recent years. For parents concerned about neurodevelopmental risks, it substantially reduces the number of grocery items that could carry residues of this specific chemical.

However, it is not a reason to let your guard down. Chlorpyrifos is one of many pesticides used in American agriculture, and several of the crops where it remains permitted (apples, strawberries, wheat) are among the most frequently consumed foods in children's diets.

Practical steps to reduce exposure include:

• Check where your food comes from. Some countries have stricter chlorpyrifos regulations than the U.S., including a full ban in the European Union.
• Wash produce thoroughly. While washing does not eliminate all pesticide residues, it can reduce surface-level contamination.
• Consider organic options for the 11 remaining crops. Organic certification prohibits synthetic pesticides, including chlorpyrifos.
• Stay informed about what is in your food. Apps like VeriFoods allow consumers to scan product barcodes and check whether items have been tested for contaminants, including pesticide residues. With the chlorpyrifos restriction now in effect, the app can reflect zero-tolerance status for this chemical on foods outside the 11 approved crops.

The Bigger Picture

The chlorpyrifos restriction is a reminder that regulatory action on food contaminants tends to move slowly. A chemical that was banned from household use 25 years ago is only now being meaningfully restricted in the food supply. During that quarter-century gap, millions of children were exposed to a substance the scientific community had flagged as a neurodevelopmental risk.

This pattern repeats across food safety: evidence accumulates, advocates push for change, and regulators act years or decades later. For consumers who do not want to wait for the next regulatory update, independent testing and transparent food safety data remain the most reliable tools for making informed decisions about what goes on the dinner table.

Sources

1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - "EPA Update on the Use of the Pesticide Chlorpyrifos on Food" - Updated January 6, 2026. https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-worker-safety/epa-update-use-pesticide-chlorpyrifos-food

2. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - "Frequently Asked Questions about the Current Status of Chlorpyrifos and Anticipated Path Forward" - Updated September 8, 2025. https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/frequently-asked-questions-about-current-status-chlorpyrifos

3. Chemical & Engineering News - "EPA proposes to ban chlorpyrifos on most food" - December 4, 2024. https://cen.acs.org/environment/pesticides/EPA-proposes-ban-chlorpyrifos-food/102/i38