Rational Agriculture

The UK Pesticide Residues Committee has published its latest findings on its monitoring work. This is summarised in Is there a risk to health from eating pesticide residues in food? And the answer is a resounding NO.

Unfortunately, the good news really doesn't get reported, presumably because it doesn't lead to scare headlines. It was reported by the BBC on-line service on 29th June (Pesticide levels "pose no threat"), but the article isn't listed under the Health or Science/Nature sections and can only be found by searching (or clicking on the link I've helpfully supplied: all part of the service).

Of course, this doesn't satisfy those people who think that farmers are conspiring to poison them: facts apparently don't interest them. So, from the BBC story, we have:

But Pesticide Action Network spokeswoman Alison Craig told BBC News the MRL was "completely irrelevant to human health".

The report failed to take into account the "cocktail effect" of combining different pesticides or the "lifetime of exposure to pesticides that starts in the womb", she said.

"Pesticides are poisons, and consumers are entitled to no contamination at all."

So, that's clear then: ignore the evidence and the advice of experts and stick to your beliefs.

But, to put real and imagined risks in perspective, look at the next quote:

An FSA spokesman told BBC News "long-term use" had been factored into the committee's findings.

But he warned consumers to continue to wash and peel fresh fruit and vegetables - not to remove traces of pesticides, but to ensure food was free from bacteria.

Whose view do you support?