Archived press release

Uk among worst in euro food testing league

26 September 2001

Pesticide residue testing of UK food is so inadequate that its safety cannot be guaranteed says Friends of the Earth. In a new report, published today, the environmental campaign group reveals that the UK lags behind most of Europe in testing food, and that most food types are not tested at all. Later today the Government is due to publish its latest annual report on pesticide residues[2,3].

Most other EU countries test more food samples for pesticide residues than the UK Government. For example, Italy tested more than 8,000 samples of fruit and vegetables in 1998, (the latest figures available for the EU) and Germany tested more than 6,000. The UK tested 732 samples:Only four EU countries tested fewer.

Taking such a small number of samples means that the vast majority of food consumed in the UK is not checked for pesticides. This includes imported food which may contain residues of pesticides not allowed in the UK. For example, bananas have not been tested since 1997. And even then, according to FOE estimates, fewer than one in every 100 million were checked.

Friends of the Earth also discovered that the food types selected for testing did not properly reflect most diets. Only bread, milk, potatoes, apples and carrots were tested annually between 1994 and 1999. Food eaten regularly by children, such as bananas, yoghurt and chocolate, is rarely monitored. Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of pesticides in food.

Even when chocolate was tested, children's chocolate was not. Instead, samples of continental and cooking chocolate were examined. Although the tests found residues of lindane in most samples, there has been no regular follow-up testing. Lindane, which has been linked with breast cancer, and is due to be banned across the EU. But it is still used on cocoa beans.

Sandra Bell, Real Food Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:

“Pesticides are regularly being found in our food, but because the testing system is so inadequate we don't know the real scale of the problem. Some of these pesticides have been linked to cancer and other health problems, and children are particularly vulnerable. The Government must do more to provide shoppers with real information about the food they eat. Monitoring costs must not be put ahead of public health.”

Friends of the Earth is calling for an increase in Government monitoring and for retailers to publish details of their own residue testing. All supermarkets carry out their own pesticide testing which is not included in the official Government reports, but so far only the Co-op and M&S are prepared to release this information to their customers.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust