Christiane Huxdorff, Greenpeace-Germany ecological farming campaigner commented: “Chemical pesticides can be found along the whole chain – from the field to our plates. Although none of the residua exceeds “the safe levels” (so-called maximum values of residuum substances admissible), the diversity of chemicals we have discovered demonstrates, that pesticides are applied routinely in conventional production of apples. Taking into account the lack of scientific knowledge regarding the possible impact of cocktails of pesticides, the results cause a serious concern. Pesticides have a dangerous impact on our environment. It is inadmissible that farmers and their families should bear the burden of the toxicity of a not working system of industrial farming.
Greenpeace conducted 126 tests of apples, of which 109 produced in the conventional way, and the remainder – biologically. The apples were bought from 23 market chains [3"> and tested in an independent laboratory for a wide array of pesticides residue. A total of 39 pesticide residues were discovered, and only in 17% of the samples from the conventionally produced apples residues were not discovered. Some of the pesticides can be qualified as stable and with a high potential for bioaccumulation. This means that when they are released in the environment, they almost do not disintegrate and become part of the food chain, with wide-ranging harm for the whole ecosystem. The apples are bought in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain and Switzerland, and are produced in the corresponding locality. The results confirm Greenpeace’s tests from earlier this year, which discovered cocktails of pesticides in the soil and water of apple gardens all around Europe. [4">
“Consumers do not want to be involved without their knowledge in the impairment of our ecosystems. There is an urgent need for supermarkets to put an end this toxic circle. They need to encourage the reduction of pesticide usage in the conventional production of apples, and to begin to get rid of the most dangerous of them. Supermarkets may also offer a greater diversity of ecologically produced apples and to assist agricultural producers, in order that they apply ecological farming practices”, Huxdorff says.
The online platform of Greenpeace www.obichamhranatasi.org has provided support to more than 15 thousand people, who have joined the movement for ecological farming.
Notes:
[1"> Huxdorff, C.; Johnston, P.; Santillo, D. (2015) “Routine use of pesticides in the production of apples in the EU” Greenpeace Germany e.V
[2"> Chlorpyrifos, Chlorothalonil, phosmet, thiophanate-methyl
[3"> Aldi, Auchan, Billa, Carrefour, Casino, Colruyt, Delhaize, Edeka, Hofer, Intermarché, Leclerc, Lidl, Metro, Migros, Rewe, Penny, Spar, Super U
[4"> Neumeister, L.; Reuter, W.; Zimmermann, D. (2015) “Europe’s addiction to pesticides: How industrial farming impairs our environment”, Greenpeace International Science Unit & Greenpeace Netherlands.
Cotter, J; Reuter, W. (2015) The sour taste of the production of apples in Europe. Analysis of pesticides in European apple gardens”, Greenpeace International Science Unit & Greenpeace Netherlands
Johnston, P.; Santillo, D.; van Bekkem, H.; van der Sterren, M. (2015) “How ecological decisions can thrive. Ecological management of pests and alternative control of the most important diseases and pests on apples”
Greenpeace tests conclude: A cocktail of pesticides in apples sold in supermarkets
