Under the title “Poisoned” on the show’s website, the program synopsis briefly outlines journalist Liz Hayes’ story which involves her visiting other countries and seeing the human effects from chemicals, including physical malformations and deformities.

The synopsis contains the line: “But what if we were to tell you that Australia's fruit and vegetables are sprayed with chemicals that are considered so dangerous they're banned around the world?”

The site goes on to say: “Liz met a young man with no eyes, saw fish with two heads and trekked to a village full of horribly deformed children. And visited a farm on Queensland's Sunshine Coast where the animals are dying.”

The program will feature an interview with Gwen Gilson, owner of the Sunland Freshwater Fish Hatchery on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, which, in 2009 claimed spray drift from a neighbouring macadamia farm caused fish deaths and deformities within fish embryos.

At the time of the media frenzy surrounding the “two-headed fish”, neighbouring macadamia farmer Troy Ziesemer deflected accusations of spray drift saying sprays were used strictly in accordance with label instructions and were applied only when weather conditions and low wind-speeds ensured the chance of spray drift or run-off was highly unlikely.

The farm contains buffer zones comprising up to 16 rows of macadamia trees which had been left unsprayed to protect neighbouring properties from possible spray drift.

Mr Ziesemer said he was contacted by 60 Minutes but declined to comment until they had spoken to the Australian Macadamia Society (AMS).

According to Mr Ziesemer, that meeting did not occur and he has had no response to messages left with the show’s producer.

Biosecurity Queensland confirmed that the official report into the Sunshine Coast fish deaths will not be finalised until April.

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) also declined a request to appear on 60 Minutes on the basis that the final report was yet to be released, and that it was not yet known if chemicals were involved.

It did however provide a written statement in early February in response to inquiries from the program.

Farmonline understands 60 Minutes was offered to be shown around a successful Bundaberg fish farm which has operated for the past 25 years surrounded by macadamia farms, but the program did not accept the offer.

* 60 Minutes will screen on Sunday night at 7.30pm.