Archived press release

Greens may be bad for you!

29 October 1997

EMBARGOED UNTIL 00:01 AM, WEDNESDAY 29 OCTOBER 1997 page 1 of 2
GREENS MAY BE BAD FOR YOU! Blair urged to take action over food safety after lettuces fail pesticide tests

Friends of the Earth has today written to the Prime Minister [1], Tony Blair, urging him to ensure that the proposed Food Agency has powers over farming practices after FOE's analysis of recent Government research shows that nine out of ten UK lettuces are contaminated with pesticides - with 10 per cent failing official guidelines [2].

The contaminated foods are listed in the Government's annual pesticide report, where lettuces sampled for the survey were purchased from retailers during 1996. The report states that levels of pesticides on lettuces can be twice the recommended maximum level even if farmers stick to the Government's good practice guidelines [3].

Pete Riley, Food Campaigner for Friends of the Earth, said:

“The public is told that eating greens is good for them yet many vegetables are contaminated by health-threatening toxic chemicals. Clearly the Ministry of Agriculture is failing to protect the health of the public. The new Food Agency has to have authority over the way our food is produced, and that means the whole food chain - from the plough to the plate”.

The report shows that 41% of all fruit and vegetables analysed were contaminated with pesticides,showing no improvement on last year's survey [4].

Friends of the Earth is concerned that the proposed Food Agency may not have authority over farming practices. Examples such as pesticide residues and BSE are clear examples where public safety has been compromised by farming methods.

ENDS

OVER>>>

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] A copy of the letter from FOE's Director Charles Secrett to Mr Blair is attached/available on request.

[2] Annual report of the Working Party on Pesticide Residues: 1996, MAFF and HSE, MAFF publications. The report, which was published last month, states that 91% of UK grown winter lettuces contain pesticide residues. Ten percent of the sample contained pesticides in excess of the Maximum Residue Level (MRL) for two fungicides (dithiocarbamate and propamocarb).

Of the lettuces sampled one contained propamocarb at 4.4 times the MRL and another 3.4 times. The survey included one sample that contained residues of five different pesticides including a weed killer and an organophosphate fungicide. Similar results were found in the 1994 and 1995 reports.Lettuces under glass can be legally sprayed with 17 different chemicals.

[3] The report adds, “...the MRL for propamocarb is 10mg/kg although it is known that compliance with UK Good practice can result in propamocarb residues up to 20mg/kg”.

[4] Residues detected: 1996 1995 1994
41% 44% 42%

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