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New league table shows stores' pesticide performance

9 July 2001

Friends of the Earth delivered its verdict on supermarket pesticide policies in a new league table published today (see 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 [1]. 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 FOE.

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 do claim to have some kind of policy to reduce pesticide use. But official data shows that about half the fresh fruit and vegetables sold in supermarkets contains pesticide residues [2]. 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. Some retailers are taking steps in the right direction. However, more action is needed, particularly from the big five supermarkets. FOE also wants all retailers to be open about what's in their food by following the Co-op's lead of promising to publish the results of its 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.”

[1] Co-op is banning 20 pesticides, restricting the use of 30 others and working with suppliers to find alternatives. It has set itself the target of eliminating detectable pesticide residues from the food its sells.
[2] FOE analysed data from the annual report of MAFF's Working Party on Pesticide Residues (1999)

How FOE rates the supermarkets on pesticides

FOE verdict	Supermarket	Steps in the right direction	Next steps
1. Leaders	Co-op	The Co-op has drawn up a list of 50 pesticides which are prohibited or restricted and will help farmers find alternatives. It is aiming for zero residues in all its food. Co-op will also publish its residue testing results - the first supermarket to do so.	Co-op has not included some of the most risky pesticides such as carbendazim and vinclozolin on its prohibited list yet. It should work with farmers to find alternatives to these pesticides.
2. Runners up	Waitrose	Waitrose aims to reduce the use of pesticides on its food and is working with suppliers to eliminate the use of several including lindane and organophosphates. Actively seeking alternatives to these pesticides.	Waitrose should make its residue testing results public and aim for zero residues.
3. Getting there	M&S	M&S is working with suppliers to produce a list of prohibited and restricted pesticides and to reduce pesticide residues in food.	M&S should make its residue testing results available to customers.
	Iceland	Iceland has made a commitment to get lindane out of its products and to aim for residue-free food	Iceland should make its testing results public and extend its banned pesticides list beyond lindane.
5. Work to do	Sainsbury	Sainsbury's has committed itself to pesticide reduction and to phase out aldicarb, carbendazim and vinclozolin. But Sainsbury's has made misleading advert claims about pesticides in food.	Sainsbury's should make its residue testing results public. It should aim for zero residues in all its food.
6. Falling behind	Asda	Asda says it has prohibited the use of some pesticides including carbendazim -although this turned up recently in Asda fruit and veg! Doesn't appear to have a general policy of pesticide reduction.	If Asda has eliminated the use of carbendazim it should share the information with other retailers. It should publish its testing results so consumers can be sure these pesticides aren't still in its food and aim for zero residues.
	Tesco	Tesco has developed a scheme called Nature's Choice which encourages“rational” pesticide use. It says it works with suppliers to keep pesticide use to the minimum required. Schemes details are not publically available.	Tesco should publish details of its Nature's Choice scheme. It should ban the most risky pesticides, and make the results of its residue testing public.
8. Stuck in a rut	Aldi	Aldi, Safeway and Somerfield, all indicate that they aim to reduce pesticide usage or residues but won't prohibit pesticides which are approved in the UK.	Aldi, Safeway and Somerfield should ban the most dangerous pesticides like hormone disrupters and publish testing results.
	Safeway
	Somerfield
11. Slackers	Morrisons	Morrisons and Netto do not have any stated policy to reduce pesticide residues.	Morrisons and Netto should wake up to the fact that consumers do not want pesticides in their food.
11. Slackers	Netto

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust

Last modified: Jun 2008