Britain's babies back baby food ban

Friends of the Earth has welcomed new regulations limiting the pesticide content of foods for infants and young children in England from July 2002. However, FOE is warning that baby's fruit and veg may still be contaminated with a chemical cocktail.

Friends of the Earth wants the Government to apply the same strict rules to all fresh fruit and vegetables.A third of all fruit and vegetables are contaminated with pesticide residues. But many parents want to feed their babies pureed fresh food, not processed baby food. Government medical advice is that fruit and veg should be peeled before eating, to avoid pesticide residues, but most parents are unaware of this advice.

Friends of the Earth Real Food Campaigner, Sandra Bell said: "Europe has quite rightly forced Britain to clean up its act. Babies and toddlers are particularly at risk from pesticide residues in their food. Parents want to know that their infants' food is safe. Of course, it's right that baby food should be pesticide-free. But our Government must also act to make sure that fresh fruit and vegetables are also free of residues. And the baby food manufacturers must make sure their food is safe to eat now - not in two years time."