Archived press release

Pesticides: levels rise in fruit and veg. Government publishes Pesticides Residues Annual Report

19 September 2000

There has been a significant increase in the quantity of fresh fruit and veg containing pesticide residues a Government report revealed today. Forty three per cent of fresh fruit and veg samples were found to contain traces of pesticides. Last year's figure was 33 per cent. The results are contained in the 1999 report from the Working Party on Pesticide Residues.

Sandra Bell, Real Food Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said:
“The public will be dismayed to learn that almost half the fresh fruit and veg they are eating contains pesticides. The Government encourages people -- including pregnant women and babies - to eat more fresh fruit and veg, so they should be doing more to ensure that they are pesticide-free.

“It's also unacceptable for Government advisors to say that pesticide residue levels are safe when no-one knows what long-term effect pesticides may have on our health”

Earlier this month Friends of the Earth issued a report highlighting a number of flaws in the pesticide regulations , casting doubts over Government assertions that pesticides residues in our food are safe. For example no consideration is given to cocktails of pesticides possibly interacting to produce unforeseen effects. In addition there's no testing for hormone disrupters.

Earlier this year the Government announced new regulations limiting residues in baby food to 0.01mk/kg in recognition that babies are more vulnerable to exposure to low levels of toxic chemicals. However, food companies don't need to comply until 2002 . FOE wants all food for babies to be free of pesticide residues - including fresh fruit and veg.

Also this year, the Royal Society published a report on hormone disrupting chemicals and recommended a precautionary approach. In particular they said that measures should be taken to ensure pregnant women's exposure to these chemicals is reduced.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust