According to Foodwatch, more than a third of cereal products in Europe are contaminated with pesticide residues. Almost 40 percent of the total 2,234 samples contained one or more pesticides, the consumer protection organization reported on Tuesday (10/10/2023) in Berlin, citing data from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Foodwatch analyzed EFSA data on pesticide residues in unprocessed cereals and processed cereal products such as bread and oatmeal.
Appeal to supermarkets
Foodwatch called on German retailers to focus exclusively on pesticide-free products.
Foodwatch’s Annemarie Botzki said that while supermarket chains like to promote environmental protection in their marketing campaigns, they often hide the use of dangerous pesticides in the production of bread, oatmeal and other grain products. She called on supermarkets to change their operations.
– Supermarkets should use their market power and sell only pesticide-free cereal products. This would cut Germany’s pesticide use in half in one fell swoop, said Annemarie Botzki of Foodwatch.
Currently, cereal production contributes significantly to the excessive use of pesticides in Germany and the EU. According to the study, more than a third (37%) of all European cereal products are contaminated. Wheat and barley alone account for 45 percent of pesticides used in Germany, and spraying covers over 60 percent of the country’s area.
Pesticide cocktail
As part of the “The Dark Side of Grain” study, the consumer protection organization analyzed data from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on pesticide residues in unprocessed cereals and processed cereal products such as bread and oatmeal. 837 of 2,234 samples showed residues of a total of 65 pesticides.
“Of these, only 18 residues in 14 samples exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRLs), but the sheer number of different pesticides (pesticide cocktail) in the products poses a health risk to consumers,” explains Foodwatch.
A consumer organization accused large retail chains of failing to keep their promises regarding sustainable development. By limiting the use of pesticides, supermarkets focused mainly on fruits and vegetables. “This is not enough to protect biodiversity, climate and environment,” emphasizes Foodwatch. (AFP, EPD/like)
Source: Gazeta
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