Archived press release

Pesticides in food: latest results

12 November 2002

Friends of the Earth today called on the Government to bring back advice to peel fruit and vegetables before giving them to young children. The calls comes as the latest pesticide results reveal pesticides found in unpeeled potatoes at 21 times the safety level for toddlers. Safety levels were also exceeded in pears. The advice which was issued by the Chief Medical Officer in 1997 was withdrawn following a recommendation of the Food Standards Agency earlier this year on the basis that the situation with residues had improved sufficiently.

Friends of the Earth also wants the Government to apply stricter safety levels to foods commonly eaten by infants such as bananas. Currently processed baby food must by law be free of pesticide residues. But today’s results showed that pesticides are regularly found in pears and bananas which are popular fruits to puree for infants. Retailers also need to do more to ensure that the food they sell is free of potentially harmful pesticide residues.

Significant findings from today’s report include:

Overall 41 per cent of fruit and vegetables tested contained residues, 20 per cent of these contained residues of more than one pesticide.

In potatoes Chlorpropham [1] was found at four times the Acute Reference Dose [2] for adults and 21 times the Acute Reference Dose for toddlers. The Pesticides Residue Committee states that these levels do not take into account reductions in pesticide levels which may result from peeling the potatoes but accepts that for potatoes baked in the skin exceedence of the safety levels could still occur.

Over half of bananas contained pesticide residues and 10 per cent contained multiple residues.

Well over half (63 per cent) of pears contained residues. A sample of pears from Sainsbury’s contained eight different pesticides and samples from Asda contained seven different pesticides. Folpet was found above safety levels in pears, this pesticide is listed as a 'probable human carcinogen' by the US EPA.

Carbendazim, a hormone disrupting pesticide, was found above legal limits [2] in apricots, green beans and yams. In laboratory studies carbendazim has been found to disrupt sperm production. A sample of apricots from Asda contained illegal levels of carbendazim despite the retailer telling Friends of the Earth two years ago that carbendazim was not used on its produce.

Chorpyrifos was found over legal limits in apricots, this is an organophosphate pesticide which has been severely restricted in the United States due to concerns over children’s health

Lindane, a pesticide which is banned in Europe and has been linked to breast cancer was found at low levels in white chocolate, including Cadbury’s Dream sold in Asda, Tesco and Morrisons and Nestle milky bar white chocolate buttons sold in Safeway.

Sandra Bell, pesticides campaigner for Friends of the Earth said
“Earlier this year the Government withdrew the only practical advice it gave to parents about reducing pesticide residues in food – to peel fruit and vegetables before giving it to young children. Today’s results show just how ill informed that decision was. It is alarming that pesticide safety levels are still being exceeded in unpeeled potatoes and in pears - popular with young children. The Government and retailers should be acting to ensure that our food is safe to eat without having to peel it first. But until that time the peeling advice should be brought back”.

Notes

[1] Chlorpropham is a carbamate herbicide, used on ware potatoes as an anti sprouting agent. There are large data gaps for all aspects of its safety. At high levels in animal studies toxic effects have included inflammation of the stomach lining and effects on the kidneys and liver.

[2] The Acute Reference Dose is the safety level for short term exposure, different levels are calculated for adults and toddlers. The MRL is the legal limit for pesticide residues in food.

[3] A list of the results for all food is available from Friends of the Earth.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust