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New tests have revealed this Fruit And vegetables potentially most affected pesticides linked to cancer Mixture.
Using data released by government last monthThe pesticides Action Network (PAN) UK found that 12 foods were at risk of a “cocktail effect” Multiple pesticides mixed together Increase the toxicity level of chemicals.
When GovernmentThe U.S. health and safety food monitoring programs concluded that most of the samples tested had safe levels. pesticidesPan UK said the report only examined individual pesticides, not mixtures.
Grapes were found to be the worst of all food groups, with one sample containing residues of at least 16 different pesticides. At least 90 percent of the 108 grape samples tested contained multiple pesticides.
A sample of Sultana grapes from Türkiye contained man-made grapes PFA “forever” chemicalswhich are toxic substances Those that don’t break down naturally in the body can accumulate, causing cancer and environmental damage.
Grapefruit fared poorly, with residues of multiple pesticides found in nearly 99 percent of samples. 10 different types were found in one sample.
Other food items affected included 79 percent of 24 lemon samples, 67 percent of 73 banana samples, 49 percent of 96 sweet pepper samples and 46 percent of 97 watermelons. Eleven different pesticides were found in peppers, while a sample of broccoli contained eight pesticides.
Beans, mushrooms, eggplant and dried beans were also included in the so-called “Dirty Dozen”.
“We found that a quarter of vegetables and three-quarters of fruit contain multiple pesticides,” Pan UK wrote.
It reported that 123 different chemicals were found in 17 types of fruits and vegetables tested, including 42 pesticides linked to cancer and 21 pesticides that interfere with hormone systems, which can potentially cause birth defects, developmental disorders and reproductive problems.
The government’s food monitoring programs tested 3,482 samples for the appropriate range of pesticides, for a total of 1,153,009 food and pesticide combinations tested.
Surveys conducted across the UK found that 51.26 percent of samples had no residues that were detected by the program, and 46.67 percent had residues found at or below the maximum residue limit. According to the report, only 2.07 percent of the samples had residues above this limit.
However, Pan UK has argued that the limits need to be re-evaluated, as they do not take into account the chemicals people are exposed to through plastic food packaging and water.
Around 29 per cent of the pesticides found during testing are not approved for use by British farmers, but can get into the food system if imported from outside the UK.
A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said Independent: “We have put in place strict limits on pesticide residues, which are set after rigorous risk assessments to ensure that the levels are safe for the public. These limits apply to both foods produced domestically and imported from other countries.”