Fears over high pesticide levels

Published on Friday 6 June 2003 01:00

CAMPAIGNERS accused the government yesterday of failing to do enough to reduce the amount of pesticides found in food.

Results from the latest round of tests found a wide range of commonly eaten food containing pesticide residues at low levels. A number of items of fresh produce - including apricots, celery, lettuce and peaches - had above the acceptable level of pesticides. Two samples of spinach from Spain raised particular concern.

The tests also found new European limits for pesticide residues in infant food were exceeded in three products, even though manufacturers have had since 1996 to comply.

The results come from analysis conducted by the Pesticide Residues Committee on behalf of the government. Friends of the Earth seized on the report to call for more action to tackle pesticides in food which they fear pose a risk to human health.

"The results show little progress has been made in reducing unacceptable pesticide residues in our food, despite retailers’ claims that they are working to reduce them," said Pete Riley, the charity’s senior food campaigner.

Almost all the 29 types of food contained samples with pesticide residues at low levels. Seventeen of the 30 apricot samples had at least one pesticide, seven had a number and one sample exceeded the maximum residue level (MRL) - a sign of good agricultural practice but not an immediate cause for concern over health.

Of the 25 samples of peach tested, 14 had the residue of at least one pesticide and nine had more than one. Five contained residues above the MRL.

Two samples of pear grown in the UK contained pesticides not approved for use on the fruit in the UK, the tests found. Non-approved pesticides were also found in two samples of potato from the UK.

The European Commission was alerted after the tests found residues of methomyl above the MRL and at a high enough level to cause concern.

Dr Ian Brown, chair of the Pesticide Residues Committee, said: "Two samples of Spanish spinach returned results which showed that short-term adverse health effects, while unlikely, could possibly have occurred as a result of the presence of methomyl - a carbamate compound used to control insect pests.

"These exceeded the acute reference dose. Symptoms of adverse health effects may have been, at worst, a mild headache or upset stomach."

He added: "It remains very important to stress to consumers that the positive benefits deriving from the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables in maintaining good health, promoting growth and development and preventing cancer are well proven and outweigh any concern about residues by enormous factors of magnitude."