A third of our food could be tainted by pesticides
A recent report released by the Pesticide Residues committee suggests that up to a third of our food may be tainted by pesticides. Traces of chemicals were even found on fruit destined for children under the Government’s free fruit for schools scheme.
More than 3,500 food samples were tested, of which 34.8 per cent contained residues of pesticides. The committee did stress that the vast majority of the traces were at levels too low to cause health problems.
However, 60 of the samples – 1.7 per cent – did contain levels higher than the maximum safe legal limit. Imported food was most likely to be in breach, said the committee. Exotic fruit and vegetables such as yams, pomegranates and passion fruit were responsible for almost all the higher than acceptable levels. Scientists also found worrying levels of chemical fungicides on Spanish lettuce, with one containing twice the permitted maximum.
From the point of view of a nutritionist I can understand why people may be worried about the amount of pesticides and residues in their food. A build up of pesticides in the body has been linked to a range of illnesses and conditions including cancer, damage to the immune system and hormone disruption in children, which causes girls to hit puberty earlier and boys to have lower sperm counts. But it is important for everyone to make sure they eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Study after study shows that the health benefits of eating good amount of fruit and vegetables.
To minimise your risk of pesticide residue, however, follow my advice in my ‘So what can I eat?’ feature and then make sure you:
- Wash all fresh vegetables and fruit, thoroughly with lots of running water.
- Use a small vegetable brush to clean the outer skin of vegetables and fruit, if appropriate – for example, before eating apples, potatoes, cucumbers or other produce in which you eat the outer skin.
- Peel vegetables and fruit and trim the outer leaves of leafy vegetables, along with washing them thoroughly. (Unfortunately, peeling vegetables and fruit may also reduce the amount of nutrients and fibre.)
- Buy organic where possible because you are not only reducing your exposure to pesticides but you can also eat the peel where most of the nutrients are contained under the skin.