Archived press release

Hormone disrupting chemicals found in baby food

1 December 2000

Pesticide residues that may disrupt the hormone system have been found in baby food by the Government's pesticide watchdog [1,2]. Pesticides were also discovered in broccoli, lettuces and strawberries.

Friends of the Earth analysis of the study, published yesterday by the Pesticide Residues Committee (PRC), reveals that several of the pesticides found are being investigated by the European Commission following concerns about their effects on human health and the environment [3]. The Royal Society has also voiced reservations about hormone disrupting chemicals urging that "it is prudent to minimise exposure of humans, especially pregnant women" to these substances.

There is strong evidence that hormone disrupting chemicals, including pesticides, have had dramatic effects on wildlife - the feminisation of male fish is well known. Now there is growing concern that several human health problems may be linked to these chemicals including declining sperm counts and increases in rates of testicular and breast cancer. Friends of the Earth wants a Government ban on pesticides already identified as hormone disrupters and wants retailers and food companies to remove these chemicals from their food.

Sandra Bell, Pesticides Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:
“Pregnant women, babies and children should not be exposed to hormone disrupting pesticides even at low levels. But shoppers can't tell if these pesticides are lurking in the lettuce they choose or the baby food they put in their basket. Supermarkets and food companies must stop this toxic lottery by being more vigilant and ensuring that these dangerous pesticides are not present in any of the food they sell”.

The PRC study found a number of pesticides thought to be hormone disrupters:

1. Carbendazim was found in baby food made by Heinz and Milupa and sold in Tesco and Waitrose. Carbendazim is known to effect the production of sperm and damage testicular development in rats. Levels in the Milupa brand exceeded the new limits for baby food which will come into force in 2002 [4].
2. Iprodione was found in lettuces sold in most major supermarkets including Tesco and Sainsburys, in some strawberries, and over the legal limit in Spanish broccoli sold at one Co-op store. Iprodione was found with dimethoate in lettuce sold at Morrisons. One lettuce sol d in Kwik Save had a total of 7 different pesticides.
3. Vinclozolin was found in strawberries sold in Asda. It is considered a high priority substance on the EC list, and has proven 'anti-maleness' effects.
4. Chlorpyrifos was found at levels over the legal limit in Spanish broccoli sold in Asda. Chlorpyrifos is a neurotoxin, recently subject of severe restrictions in the U.S. It is also listed by the German Federal Environment Agency as a potential hormone disrupter who report that it is linked to male and female genital deformities.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] Report of the Pesticides Residues Committee, First Quarter Results, January - March 2000,Pesticides Safety Directorate.

[2] Note: the baby foods listed in this press release are all non-organic brands. The PRC found that one sample of organic baby food contained residues of chlormequat. This pesticide is not suspected as being a hormone disrupter, but any pesticides occurring in baby food are of concern. Organic baby food is much less likely to contain residues than non-organic baby food because synthetic pesticides, including chlormequat are not allowed in organic farming. It is vital that any breach of the organic standards is followed up as a matter of urgency and FOE understands that the company concerned, Baby Organix, has carried out an urgent investigation into the source of the contamination and has found that this has been caused by spray drift from a non-organic orchard.

[3] A number of chemicals appear on a list, drafted by the European Commission, as priority substances for further action. The list forms part of the EC's strategy for endocrine (hormone)disruptors. : “Towards the establishment of a priority list of substances for further evaluation in their role in endocrine disruption” final report by BKH Engineers, Delft, the Netherlands.

[4] An EU regulation setting a level of 0.01 mg/kg for all pesticides was introduced into England this year but will not be enforced until July 2002.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust