22 of the world’s most dangerous pesticides occur in the Swedish food, even though they are banned in the whole EU. Some of them are endocrine disruptors and therefore hazardous even in very small doses, but despite the NFA found remnants of them also from European plantations have not sounded the alarm. This shows an examination made of the book Environment diet in cooperation with echo.
– What I can see now it’s more of these hormone-disrupting substances were banned 10 years ago in Europe, said Peter Bergkvist, strategic advisor at the Swedish Chemicals Agency. But they are still used.
echo and book Miljödietens review of NFA’s spot checks show that residues of suspected endocrine disruptors found in many of our most common foods. Apples, oranges, rice, grapes, raisins and chili peppers are some of them.
Pesticides that contain hormone-disrupting substances is a hazard for both humans and animals at the place where they are grown and for us consumers, even in very small doses, how small is it nobody knows today.
– it affects, for example, the reproduction and the ability to get offspring. says Peter Bergkvist. It’s the properties that are unacceptable really.
Is there a danger for those handling pesticides or for us who eat the products?
– both. Just when it comes to these endocrine disruptors, it is not only the doses of exposure to relevant, but also when one is exposed to these substances.
So, even in very small doses, it can therefore be harmful?
– Yes, and it’s really new knowledge you learn more and more about this type of effects.
So that you certainly do not have the food at all?
– it is inappropriate for several reasons.
these pesticides banned in the EU for a long time. The same applies to other pesticides in other ways are dangerous for us consumers or to the risk of damage to people, animals and nature in the vicinity of the orchard.
In total there are 150 cases in the last five years. But the NFA think that moving in the right direction.
– The number of cases that contain such high levels that they are harmful to us consumers is declining, says Petra Fohgelberg, surveyor of the NFA. If we stick to the exceeding of thresholds, it has fallen drastically since 2009, when it is a clear trend straight down.
The prohibited pesticides , found mainly in foods grown outside the EU . However, our review shows that even vegetables and fruits grown in the EU countries containing residues of prohibited substances. Even the ones that are suspected endocrine disruptors. Remains of banned pesticides have been found in oranges from Spain, olive oils from Greece, apples from Belgium, grapes from Greece and cucumbers from Holland.
But as long as it does not involve a level exceeding the NFA limits strikes NFA not alarm. The farmers can continue to use illegal substances.
– We are not precisely so that we are looking out right banned …, says Petra Fohgelberg.
But if you will find residues of prohibited substances in food that is produced within the EU, are you doing anything special then?
– not if they do not exceed a threshold.
Why do you do nothing then if you discover that they are used illegally in an EU country?
– Yes, that is our control has the focus check against the limit.
It is also about the NFA database does not contain information on the pesticides that are banned. They discovered thus not automatically controls.
Peter Bergkvist Chemicals Agency think that the NFA should consider changing their routines and alert the country where food containing banned pesticides grown:
– This particular sample check’s a pretty good way to recognize this fault turns and it would be good if you take advantage of the knowledge that exists here.
about half of the vegetables and fruit being tested contains the remains of some form of pesticides (including those that are allowed to use). Residues are most common in pesticides in food imported from other EU countries and less common in the Swedish-produced food than the EU average
If you want to completely avoid pesticide residues buy ekoligskt produced food. The NFA tests, it is extremely rare that there are pesticide residues.
Footnote: the 22 pesticides are banned for use in the EU. However, it is not forbidden to import food that is grown using these pesticides outside the EU, as long as the levels are below the limits the EU decided on.
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