New league table shows stores' pesticide performance9 July 2001
Friends of the Earth delivered its verdict on supermarket pesticide policies in a new league table. In a close battle for top slot, the Co-op edged ahead of Waitrose following new commitments, announced last week, to get pesticides out of its food. Crucial to the Co-op gaining top position is its openness with consumers. It is the first retailer to promise to publish the results of its own pesticide residue testing [www.co-op.co.uk]. The new verdicts update the league table produced last June by Friends of the Earth.
The top two are closely followed by M&S and Iceland. But the biggest five supermarkets fared less well. Asda is sliding down the table with Tesco also falling behind. Sainsbury's did slightly better, due to recent commitments to phase out some dangerous pesticides. Somerfield and Safeway remain "stuck in a rut". Meanwhile Morrisons and Netto are "slackers" facing relegation at the bottom of the table. Neither has a policy to reduce pesticide residues in their food.
Most supermarkets claim to have a policy to reduce pesticide use, but official data shows that about half the fresh fruit and vegetables sold in supermarkets contains pesticide residues. These include residues of pesticides which are known hormone disrupters. There is increasing evidence that these chemicals are implicated in health trends such as declining sperm counts and increases in the rates of some cancers.
Friends of the Earth wants all retailers to ban the use of the most dangerous pesticides, including hormone disrupters, and work with suppliers to aim for zero residues in their food. Friends of the Earth also wants all retailers to be open about what's in their food and publish the results of their own residue testing.
Sandra Bell, Real Food Campaigner of Friends of the Earth, said: "Shoppers will want to know that the Co-op and Waitrose are top of the pesticide league table. They are taking real action over customer concerns about pesticide levels in our food. Other retailers should follow their lead. They should also match the Co-op's pledge to publish its pesticide testing results, so that customers know what's in their food. Friends of the Earth will continue to monitor the situation and tell the public which supermarkets are meeting the challenge and which ones are ducking it."
How Friends of the Earth rates the supermarkets on pesticides (details follow)
1. Leaders Co-op
2. Runners up Waitrose
3. = Getting there M&S
3. = Iceland
5. Work to do Sainsbury
6. = Falling behind Asda
6. = Tesco
8. = Stuck in a rut Aldi
8. = Safeway
8. = Somerfield
11.= Slackers Morrisons
11.= Netto
Get these updates first
If you would like these news updates to be emailed to you as soon as they come out, then join our real food mailing list.
Register Here
News
