New report highlights pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables
Legambiente, an Italian environmental organization, has released the new edition of its report "Stop Pesticides on the Plate," highlighting the concerning presence of chemical residues in food products. The study found that 41.3% of the food samples analyzed contained pesticide residues, with fruits being the most affected category. Additionally, 26.3% of these samples exhibited multiple pesticide residues, raising alarms about potential synergistic health risks.
The analysis included 5 233 food samples from both conventional and organic farming in Italy. Although only 1.3% of the samples showed irregularities, the presence of pesticide residues remains a significant concern according to Legambiente. Among the most contaminated foods, fruit led the way, with 74.1% of samples testing positive for residues. Vegetables, particularly peppers, and processed products also showed high contamination rates.
The report noted that while extra virgin olive oil and wine displayed positive signs - with 53.1% of wine samples free of residues - fruits and vegetables suffered from increased pesticide use due to challenging climatic conditions. The prevalence of fungicides and insecticides, such as Acetamiprid and Imazalil, continues to dominate crop protection practices.
Alarmingly, illegal pesticide seizures in Europe have nearly doubled in 2023, with Europol intercepting 2 040 tons of banned substances. This increase highlights the ongoing challenges posed by illegal agrochemicals, primarily trafficked from countries like China and Turkey. Legambiente is calling for several urgent measures, including the approval of a new National Action Plan for sustainable pesticide use and stricter regulations on multi-residue pesticides. They emphasize the need to support organic farming and ensure equitable access to resources for small and medium-sized farms transitioning to sustainable practices.
The report also pointed out that organic products showed significantly lower pesticide residues, with only 7% of samples testing positive, presumably due to accidental contamination. Italy remains a leader in organic farming in Europe, with 2.5 million hectares dedicated to organic practices, accounting for 19.8% of the country’s utilized agricultural area.
As Legambiente advocates for agroecological practices, the report reinforces the need for a systemic change in agricultural practices to combat the environmental and health challenges posed by pesticides.
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