Home > Press releases > Archived press releases > 1998 > Baby food in euro-safety shocker
2 November 1998
The EC plan, published this month, is to set a maximum level for pesticides in baby food of 0.01milligrammes per kilogramme [1].
Friends of the Earth has published its analysis of the UK Government's survey of non-organic baby food bought in the UK [2]. Published in today's Daily Mail, it shows that:
. 49% contained pesticide residues at or above 0.01 mg/kg
. 35% contained pesticide residues at or above 0.1 mg/kg ( 10 times more than the proposed limit)
. 14% contained multiple pesticide residues at or above 0.3 mg/kg ( 30 times more than the proposed limit)
Samples taken from both UK and French baby foods were contaminated with fungicides and insecticides [3]. Samples of baby food from Germany, where the planned EC standards already applies, were all found to be within the 0.01 mg/kg limit.
Peter Riley, FOE Food Campaigner said:
“Pesticides in baby food should worry every parent. Our kids shouldn't be forced by food producers to play chemical Russian roulette. Our Government must act now with retailers and manufacturers to make sure that all baby food meets the new EC limit. If the Germans can do it, then so can we.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. European Commission Press Release IP/98/899/Oct 14 1998
“Commission proposes very stringent rules on pesticide residues in baby foods”
Proposals to add new provisions to Directive 96/4/EC on infant formula and follow-on formula and Directive 96/5/EC on processed cereal-based and baby foods for infants and young children to ensure that baby food contains no detectable levels of pesticide residues. Until now differences have remained in Member State legislation on this subject. In future, baby food will be allowed to contain not more than 0.01 mg of pesticide residue per kilogram”
[2] MAFF/HSE, 1998. “Annual Report of the Working Party on Pesticide Residues 1997: Supplement to the Pesticides Register 1998".
[3] ibid.
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