Archived press release

Festive fare foul? FOE talks toxic turkey

23 December 1997

Do you know what you will be eating for Christmas lunch? New research from Friends of the Earth shows that your traditional festive fare could contain a “chemical cocktail” of pesticides and antibiotics. However, FOE is pleased to announce that post lunch brandy appears to be pesticide free.

FOE has published a Christmas Menu (attached) showing that:

• Turkeys are given antibiotic feed addititives, to reduce the chance of disease spreading in cramped broiler sheds and as a growth promoter
• More than half of all UK potatoes sold through shops may contain pesticide residues, including chloropropham (weedkiller), thiabendazole (a systemic fungicide), and tecnazene (fungicide and sprout suppressant)
• Carrots can contain organophosphate insecticide
• Sprouts can contain dithiocarbamate fungicides and lindane

Even your pudding may not be free of unwanted additives - brandy butter and chocolate may contain lindane, while nuts may contain methyl bromide. Health concerns include: a connection between lindane and breast cancer, links between dithiocarbamates and cancer and reproductive effects in experimental animals, and the possible connection between organophosphates and Gulf War syndrome and poisoning of sheep farmers. FOE is particularly concerned about the possible “cocktail” effects of multiple residues in food.

Adrian Bebb, Food Campaigner for Friends of the Earth, commented:
“Far too much of what we eat at Christmas is contaminated by chemical farming methods. Santa only knows what the long term health effects of such chemical cocktails might be. The Ministry of Agriculture (MAFF) has done little to investigate the problem. The new Food Standards Agency must take a lead in eliminating pesticides and antibiotic residues from our food chain. And we need to move towards organic and other sustainable forms of farming to ensure reliable and tasty Christmas fare in future.”

Starter: PARSNIP SOUP

7 out of 8 samples taken in 1995 contained organophosphate residues

Main Course 1: ROAST TURKEY

Four antibiotic feed additives can be used in turkeys under EU Directive 70/545/EEC. These are:Baitracin Zinc, Flavophospholipol (Bamberermycin), Spramycin and Virginiamycin. In 1996 the EU suspended the use of the growth promoteravoparcin, because of its smiliarity to vanomycin andteicoplanin antibiotics, which are used to fight infections in humans. 10 to 15 million turkeys are reared for the Christmas market in artificially lit broiler sheds containing 10,000 birds, with each one having 3-4 square feet each, or pole barns which have natural light and slightly more space.De-beaking causes turkeys phantom limb pain. 700,000 to 1,000,000 birds per year die before they reach maturity

Main Course 2: BOILED AND ROAST POTATOES

In 1996, samples of UK maincrop potatoes from retail outlets showed 56% containing residues.23% contained multiple residues - 3 samples contained 3 different pesticides, and 2 samples contained 4. Pesticides included chloropropham (weedkiller), thiabendazole (a systemic fungicide), and tecnazene (fungicide and sprout suppressant)

Main Course 3: CARROTS

In 1994, MAFF advised consumers to peel and top all carrots before eating, because of the possible presence of organophosphate residues. Samples taken between February and May 1996 showed that 88% of carrots still contained organophosphates, and 30% contained two pesticide residues

Main Course 4: SPROUTS

Samples taken in 1995 showed that 50% of sprouts contained pesticide residues, includingdithiocarbamate fungicides and lindane

Dessert 1: CHRISTMAS PUDDING

In 1996, 12 pesticide residues were found in 13 samples of mixed fruit, including 4 different organophosphates

Dessert 2: BRANDY BUTTER

In 1996, 36% of UK butter samples contained residues of lindane

Nibbles 1: NUTS

Methyl bromide, a destroyer of the ozone layer, is used to fumigate nut stores. It is highly dangerous for workers if inhaled. It is due to be phased out by 2010

Nibbles 2: CHOCOLATE

In 1994, 75% of chocolate samples contained residues of lindane

Post-Prandial: BRANDY

Drink as much as you like!

All sample figures are taken from the 1994, 1995, and 1996 Annual Reports of the Working Party on Pesticide Residues, produced by MAFF and HSE. The samples quoted are the latest available.

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