Illegal pesticides detected in food on sale in UK

Pesticide traces above legally permitted levels were found in a small number of fresh food products in the UK, according to a report out today.

Of the 524 food samples tested, 105 contained chemical traces, with six of those items – including grapes, a lettuce, a pepper and passionfruit - containing pesticide traces above the maximum residues level.

The remaining 419 items contained no chemical traces.

None of the pesticides detected were likely to cause concern for people’s health, according to the Pesticides Residues Committee (PRC) which carried out the research.

One lettuce contained traces of chlorothalonil – a pesticide which is not approved for use in the UK.

The Pesticides Safety Directorate has launched an investigation into the apparently illegal use of this pesticide.

Lab tests were carried out on 524 samples of nine different types of food available in the UK during the first three months of this year.

PRC chairman Dr Ian Brown said: “The majority of food sampled either does not contain detectable residues or where residues are found they are in accordance with legal limits, the maximum residue level (MRL).

“The PRC has looked carefully at all exceedances of the MRL. We are satisfied that all the results are unlikely to be of concern for consumer health.”

Pesticide levels above the MRL were found in samples of grapes from Chile and South Africa, lettuce from the UK, a pepper from Spain and passionfruit from Colombia.

Separate tests by the PRC on fruit and vegetables destined for schoolchildren as part of a Government scheme found 50 of the 59 samples contained pesticide residues, none of which were above the MRL.

The PRC’s first quarter report of 2007 is part of a £2 million ongoing food and drink monitoring programme. The PRC is an independent body which advises Government, the Food Standards Agency and the Pesticides Safety Directorate.