A new report from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reveals that 41% of European fruits and vegetables contain traces of pesticide residues. Furthermore, by eating more than half of these foods, consumers are exposed to several types of pesticide residues at the same time.
Regulators still do not take into account the health effects of the cocktail of these products. However, experts from various disciplines continue to warn of the dangers that this can entail. Yesterday, for example, more than 70 personalities from the world of science and medicine did so, presenting the Toxic-Free Future declaration, which has been promoted by the Rezero Foundation, and in which they denounce the “alarming exposure” to toxic chemicals.
Huge quantities of pesticides (insecticides, herbicides and fungicides...) are used in agricultural fields to combat pests (insects, fungi, weeds...). But excessive use of these products can contaminate soils, waters, wildlife and, ultimately, lead to consumers eating the food.
The EFSA report highlights that 96.3% of the samples with residues of these foods in the 27 European countries analyzed are “within the legally permitted levels.” The analyzes correspond to 2022 and 110,829 samples were collected. The conclusion of the European authority is that “there is a low risk to the health of consumers derived from the estimated exposure to pesticide residues in the foods analyzed.” However, the report offers a series of recommendations to improve control systems.
However, the Pesticide Action Network of Europe (PAN Europe) warns that the results are not worthy of applause. In fact, 41% of the samples contained detectable pesticide residues and 23% of them contained a combination of pesticides (two or more residues), a fact that is currently not regulated.
Salomé Roynel, policy manager at PAN Europe, states that the EFSA information is insufficient and does not give a real idea of the risks associated with this contamination. “European consumers are exposed daily to multiple pesticide residues in their food. "The EFSA does not take this reality into account when setting the maximum levels of permitted residues, thus underestimating the risks."
There is growing scientific evidence showing that chronic exposure to pesticides, including through residues in food, increases the likelihood of developing chronic diseases, he adds.
In 2022, the percentage of vegetables and fruits sold in European stores without detectable pesticide residues (i.e. below the analytical detection limit) fell slightly to 41% compared to 44.3% in 2021 .
The presence of multiple residues in food continues to be highlighted. In 2022, the percentage of multiple residues in fruits and vegetables sold on the EU market was 23%, compared to 26.4% in 2021 and 27% in 2020 and 2019. Sweet peppers, grapes table, strawberries, apples, peaches, tomatoes, oranges, lemons, pears, lettuce and tangerines were the foods with the highest quantified multiple residues. The highest number of multiple residues found in a sample was in tomatoes, where 16 different pesticides were quantified, followed by strawberries, where 15 different pesticides were quantified.
Experts highlight that beyond compliance with European standards, the underlying problem is the high percentage of pesticide residues that are detected, either below or above the regulated levels. The EU has, in theory, some of the strictest pesticide legislation in the world. However, when it comes to evaluating pesticide mixtures in food, policymakers “turn a blind eye,” says PAN Europe. The greatest concern arises from the impact that pesticides that contain endocrine disruptors, hormonal contaminants capable of altering the hormonal system, may cause. Despite the low percentage of non-compliance detected, certain endocrine disrupting pesticides are cause for alert because even the lowest exposure dose can pose a danger, according to PAN Europe.
