The worst supermarket fruit and veg for pesticides

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"New tests have revealed the fruit and vegetables most affected by potentially cancer-linked pesticide mixtures. Using data released by the government last month, the Pesticide Action Network (Pan) UK found 12 food items were at risk of a cocktail effect, meaning several pesticides mixed together increase the toxicity level of the chemicals. While the government's health and safety food monitoring programmes concluded that the vast majority of samples tested contained a safe level of pesticides,"

"Grapes were found to be the worst of all the food groups, with one sample containing the residue of at least 16 different pesticides. At least 90 per cent of the 108 grape samples tested contained multiple pesticides. A sample of sultana grapes from Turkey included man-made PFA forever chemicals, which are toxins that do not break down in the body naturally and can accumulate, leading to cancer and environmental damage."

Independent reporting seeks donations to fund on-the-ground journalism and maintains open access rather than paywalls. New tests and government data analysis by Pesticide Action Network UK identified 12 food items at risk from pesticide cocktail effects, where mixed chemicals increase toxicity. Government monitoring programmes tested individual pesticides and concluded most samples were at safe levels, but did not assess combined mixtures. Grapes emerged as the worst-offending food group: at least 90 percent of 108 grape samples contained multiple pesticides, one sample had residues of at least 16 pesticides, and a sultana grape sample from Turkey contained persistent PFA chemicals linked to cancer and environmental harm.

Read at www.independent.co.uk