Whistleblower claims half of Driscoll’s berry shipments to Canada exceeded safety limits

Former Driscoll’s food-safety and regulatory compliance manager David Harada has sued the company, claiming that roughly 50 % of its berry shipments to Canada from 2022 to 2024 contained pesticide residues exceeding Canadian safety thresholds. Harada says the company removed a tracking system that ensured adequate waiting periods after pesticide application, leading to excess levels of bifenthrin, iprodione and captan in the fruit.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency conducted multiple inspections during that period and confirmed the violations, but did not issue recalls, citing insufficient health risk. Harada alleges he was set up as a scapegoat and faced retaliation for reporting the problem, while Driscoll’s maintains it complied with regulations and will present evidence in court. Experts note that occasional exceedances are not unusual, but repeated violations raise concerns about long-term chemical exposure. The case highlights tensions between industry practices, regulatory oversight, and consumer safety in the North American berry market.