Retailers must reduce pesticide levels in babies' and children's food14 March 2002
Into the mouths of babes, a new report from Friends of the Earth concludes that exposure to pesticides at a young age may be responsible for serious health effects, particularly in later life. Friends of the Earth is challenging supermarkets to put babies and young children first by eliminating residues from the foods they eat.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that children should eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day. Friends of the Earth agrees that fruit and veg consumption should be increased but is concerned that unless action is taken now, children will also be exposed to increased pesticide levels in the name of healthy eating. Recent government data shows that almost half of the fresh fruit and vegetables sold in supermarkets contain pesticides residues. While most were at low levels, some exceeded the safety limits for young children.
Friends of the Earth has examined existing scientific evidence about risk to unborn babies, infants and young children. The conclusions of Friends of the Earth's report include:
- Unborn babies, infants and young children are particularly vulnerable to the hazards of pesticides because they are at crucial stages of development.
- The increase in behavioural disorders among children in industrial countries could be related to the pesticides to which unborn babies are exposed.. Subtle harm done to the brain early in life may not become evident until much later. Such effects are difficult to detect in the laboratory studies used by Government to decide on whether a pesticide can be approved for use.
- Babies and children are more exposed to pesticides in food because, in proportion to their body eight, they eat a greater proportion of food than adults.
- Children are also more at risk from pesticides used in the home and garden as they will have more contact with them when playing.
- There is increasing concern about the exposure to hormone disrupting pesticides in early life. Even at low levels, this may lead to serious health problems. It is thought that trends such as falling sperm counts, increases in some cancers, and girls entering puberty earlier, may be linked to hormone disruptions.
- Children living in agricultural areas around the world have been found to have pesticides in their bodies and links have been found to serious health effects such as birth defects and cancer.
- In the US special protection for children is written into the law on pesticides but no such provision has been made for children in the UK.
- In July new regulations will be introduced prohibiting pesticide residues in processed baby food. The same restrictions should apply to fresh fruit and vegetables so the same level of protection is applied to baby food made at home.
Friends of the Earth has accused retailers of not delivering on the claims and promises they make pesticides. Sainsbury's in particular has been trying hard to convince its customers that it is taking action on pesticides, via glossy adverts, its website and letters to shoppers. Yet in reality about half the fruit and vegetables sampled from Sainsbury' stores was found to contain pesticide residues and the retailer as yet to publish a clear policy on pesticide reduction. Sainsbury's has also refused to publish details of its own residue testing.
In contrast, last year the Co-op and M&S announced that they were banning a range of pesticides, restricting the use of many others, and both retailers now publish their own pesticide testing data on their websites - the only retailers to do so. They are both working with suppliers to find alternatives to the most risky pesticides and to extend their list of prohibited products.
"Retailers have a responsibility to sell safe food. This includes making sure it does not contain harmful pesticides. Infants need special protection from pesticide exposure - the harm done early in life can have serious health consequences later," said Friends of the Earth Food and Farming Campaigner Sandra Bell. "Retailers should put be putting babies and children first by removing pesticides from the food they eat."
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