Pesticides level rise in fruit AND veg19 September 2000
Significant increases in the quantity of fresh fruit and veg containing pesticide residues have been found over the past year reveal a Government report published this week. Forty three per cent of fresh fruit and veg samples were found to contain traces of pesticides. Last year's figure was 33 per cent. The results are contained in the 1999 report from the Working Party on Pesticide Residues.
"The public will be dismayed to learn that almost half the fresh fruit and veg they are eating contains pesticides. The Government encourages people - including pregnant women and babies - to eat more fresh fruit and veg, so they should be doing more to enure that they are pesticide-free," said Friends of the Earth Real Food Campaigner, Sandra Bell. "It is also unacceptable for Government advisors to say that pesticide residue levels are safe when no one knows what long-term effect pesticides may have on our health.
Earlier this month Friends of the Earth issued a report highlighting a number of flaws in the pesticide regulations, casting doubts over Government assertions that pesticides residues in our food are safe. For example no consideration is given to cocktails of pesticides possibly interacting to produce unforeseen effects. In addition there's no testing for hormone disrupters.
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