Dutch fruit is the most contaminated in Europe
Autumn fruit is highly contaminated with the most dangerous category of pesticides, but Dutch apples and pears are the most contaminated, government data shows.
High percentages of European pears (49%), table grapes (44%), apples (34%), plums (29%) and raspberries (25%) were sold with pesticide residues linked to increased risk of cancer, birth defects, heart disease and other serious conditions, according to the latest data [1]. Most of them are already a threat even at very low doses.
European citizens are exposed to a dramatic increase in the frequency and intensity of residues of the most toxic pesticides on fruits and vegetables sold in the EU. This report and the primary conclusion contradict official claims that the use of toxic pesticides is declining and reveal a complete failure by Member States to implement EU regulations and protect consumers.
Fruit from some countries was more contaminated than others. In 2020, nearly three-quarters (71%) of Dutch apples were contaminated with the most dangerous pesticides, compared to 54% from Greece, the producer of the second most contaminated apples. At 70% and 71% respectively, Dutch pears were only fractionally less polluted than the Belgian ones. Scandinavian countries produced apples and pears with little or no pollution. Nearly half of the Hungarian and Greek plums were contaminated, while Norwegian raspberries were by far the most contaminated (61%). Too few samples were taken from both fruits in the Netherlands to provide a reliable picture of the infection. Greek and Italian grapes were the most polluted (56% and 47% respectively).
The problem has worsened. Pesticides Action Network () Europe analyzed 4,137 fresh fruit samples tested by governments between 2011 and 2020 and found that contamination of apples, pears and plums with the most dangerous pesticides has nearly doubled since 2011, by 110%, 107% and 81% respectively, while a third (33%) of all sampled fruits were contaminated in 2020, up from 20% in 2011.
Source: #fruit #pesticiden #foods #yoors
