Government gets poor marks for school fruit scheme23 October 2002
Friends of the Earth has called on the Government to ensure fruit used in the National School Fruit Scheme is pesticide-free. The call comes after figures released by the Department of Health (www.pesticides.gov.uk) revealed that the majority of fruit provided through the fruit scheme between January and March contained pesticide residues. The results cover four types of fruit - apples, bananas, citrus and pears - almost all of which were imported.
The National School Fruit Scheme was set up to encourage children to eat more fruit and is strongly supported by Friends of the Earth. But the Department of Health is undermining the benefits of a healthy diet by giving children fruit containing potentially risky pesticides. Children are more vulnerable to the effects of pesticides because their bodies are still developing. They also tend to be exposed to more pesticides than adults.
Friends of the Earth also criticised the scheme for:
- Relying on imported produce rather than supporting British apple and pear growers.
- Not buying bananas with a Fair Trade certification.
"The Government really must do better with its National School Fruit Scheme," said Friends of the Earth Food Campaigner Sandra Bell. "It is exposing children to risky pesticides when it is supposed to be giving them a healthy start in life. Why can't the scheme provide fruit that is pesticide free?"
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