Archived press release

Foe congratulates co-op on pesticides action

2 July 2001

Friends of the Earth today welcomed the Co-op's promise to remove pesticides from its food and support UK organic farmers.

The Co-op today launched a new report “A Green and Pleasant Land” following an extensive survey on consumer attitudes to organic food and pesticides. This showed high demand for organic food,and deep level of concern about pesticides - particularly over potential health impacts on children.

In response to these concerns the Co-op has set itself the target of reducing all pesticide residues to zero detectable levels. They will also ban suppliers from using a list of 20 particularly dangerous pesticides. The Co-op will ban their suppliers from using these pesticides worldwide.

The Co-op has placed a further 30 pesticides on a restricted list. Although this list includes pesticides which FOE would like to see banned, (including several which are known to act as hormone disrupters), the environmental group welcomes the commitment that the Co-op has made to restrict their use and work with suppliers to find alternatives. The Co-op has also committed itself to release the results of its own residue testing - the first retailer to do so. Government data shows that about 50% of supermarket food contains pesticide residues, but consumers are normally left in the dark about the pesticides that turn up in their food.

FOE today called on all retailers to follow the Co-op's lead. But FOE warns that action from Government is also urgently needed to tackle the problems caused by pesticide use. The Government's review of food and farming must include a commitment to ensuring that 30% of farmland is organic by 2010 and that targets are set for reducing pesticide use on all crops.Fundamental changes are also needed in the way that pesticides are approved, so that only the most benign products are allowed. FOE welcomes the Co-op's commitment to join NGOs in lobbying the Government on these issues.

Sandra Bell, real food campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said:
“Congratulations to the Co-op for its pledge to remove so many pesticides from the food it sells. Consumers have made it clear that they want pesticide-free food. Now other retailers should follow the Co-op's lead. The Government must also take notice. It is vital that it takes farming down a more sustainable path. This must include clear targets and action for increasing organic farming and reducing pesticide use.”

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust