A new survey by environmental pressure group Friends of the Earth (FoE) shows that 60% of fruit and vegetables sold in Somerfield over the past four years contain pesticide residues. The results make the retail chain the worst performer out of the nine supermarkets surveyed.

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The FoE survey is based on data published by the government’s Pesticides Safety Directorate between 1998 and 2001. The latest pesticide residue results (for the Q1 2002) are due to be published later today (Wednesday). 


Pesticides commonly found in supermarket foods include substances suspected of interfering with the hormone and nervous systems. FoE is calling on retailers to phase out the use of the most risky pesticides. So far only Marks and Spencer and Co-op have introduced policies to phase-out particular pesticides and aim for residue free food. Both retailers have recently signed up to FoE’s toxic pledge which also requires them to phase out other risky chemicals, such as Bisphenol A (found in food can linings).


Other retailers are lagging behind, despite claims they make to their customers.  Sainsbury’s prints a message on its plastic bags claiming “we’re committed to using natural alternatives to pesticides where possible”. But nearly half (48%) of its fruit and veg contains residues, FoE said.


The government must do more too, insisted the group. In June the Food Standards Agency agreed that action was needed to minimise pesticide residues in food and that “the ultimate aim should be to ensure that they are not to be detected at the point of sale” . 

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In order to meet this aim, FoE wants the government to introduce strict limits for pesticides in fruit and vegetables and put more resources into helping UK growers produce residue-free food. On 1 July this year new regulations prohibited pesticides in processed baby food because infants need special protection. But the same rules do not apply to fresh food.


Sandra Bell, FoE pesticide campaigner, said: “There is too much hype from supermarkets about their plans to cut pesticide use, and not enough action. Only the Co-op and M&S have made a real commitment to getting pesticides out of their food. Government action is needed too. Stricter limits for pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables must be introduced and more is needed to help UK farmers produce pesticide-free food.”