94,7 percent of organic food do not have pesticide residues
Results from organically grown fruits and vegetables testing
17.12.2004 |Margriet Samwel
Children are more vulnerable to toxic chemicals and should preferably eat organic food
In 94,7 percent of organic food there are no pesticides residues.
(www.n-bnn.de)In only 5,3 percent of the 633 tested organic grow fruit and vegetable samples pesticide residues were found.
This result was announced in November 2004 by the German “Bundesverband Naturkost Naturwaren”, BNN, shortly before the end of the German pesticide-monitoring program for fruits and vegetables from organic markets, shops and traders (“Monitoring-System für Obst und Gemüse im Naturkostfachhandel”). The program was financial supported by the German Ministry for Consumers, Food and Agriculture (Verbraucherschutz, Ernährung und Landwirtschaft).
Since July 2003 632 fruit and vegetable samples were analisied for pesticides. The laboratories only found pesticides in 5,3 % of the 33 samples. In 0,8% the limit fixed for pesticide residues was exceeded. In contrast: 8% of the conventional grown products exceed the limit.
The monitoring program helped also to find out the weak points during cultivation, transport, storage and processing. For example they found that, a fungicide on wrapping paper used for conventionally grown pears was used for organic grown pears and had left traces of the fungicide on the fruits. Wash water used for conventional nectarines had contaminated the organically grown products.
In addition to this safety gap contamination of organic products is often caused by spray drift from neighbour fields or from persistent pesticides, which contaminated the environment.
Organically cultivated products are safe in particular for babies and children.
In none of the following products pesticide residues were found: bananas, strawberries, kiwi, mangos, all spices of cabbage. All the tested apples and bananas fulfilled the regulation for baby and children food (Diät-Verordnung). For example the pesticide (one active substance) limit for prepared baby food is 0,01 mg/kg.
Conventional grown fruits and vegetables keep in this limit rather seldom.
