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 M&S and Somerfield top pesticides findings
Friday 24 August 2001
Two leading supermarkets, Marks & Spencer (M&S) and Somerfield, said yesterday that they aimed to cut pesticide use on their fruit and vegetables.
The statements came after the pressure group Friends of the Earth (FoE) found that 63 per cent of M&S's produce, and 59 per cent of Somerfield's, carried pesticide residues – more than any of the other nine supermarkets surveyed.
However, FoE also found that in the past three years an average of almost half of the fruit and vegetables sold in all nine supermarkets contained chemical residues.
Pesticide residues in food are closely monitored by health watchdogs because of fears that they could contain chemicals that in turn might trigger cancer or other illnesses.
M&S, however, insisted that it had been unfairly singled out. "In the last four Government Pesticide Surveillance Reports, we were the only major food retailer that did not exceed the legal maximum residue levels," said David Gregory, the chain's head of food technology.
The findings still fell within permitted levels, he said. "We have a long-term aspiration to sell residue-free foods." M&S intends to phase out all pesticides using any of 79 particular chemicals by January next year.
Somerfield said its position was the result of its customers' preference for conventional rather than organically grown food. "We have less demand from our shoppers for organic food, which is generally grown without pesticides. But we are trying to reduce the levels of pesticides used in our food," the Bristol-based supermarket said.
Residues can vary according to food type, with none found in garlic, Chinese cabbage, sweetcorn or swedes in any of the nine supermarkets tested, FoE said. Some of the highest residues were recorded in celery, grapes, oranges, strawberries, pears, lettuce and apples.
Although FoE said it found most of the residues were within legal limits, the high number meant people are regularly exposed to a "cocktail of pesticides" on food. Sandra Bell, an FoE campaigner, said: "Many consumers will be shocked to find out that about half the fresh fruit and veg they put in their shopping trolleys comes laced with dodgy chemicals. Fruit and vegetables are crucial to a healthy diet – they should not come with toxic residues."
However, some scientists say that fears over pesticides are overblown. Professor Bruce Ames of the University of California said recently that some of the most potent residues are produced by the plants themselves to fight off insects.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is currently preparing the annual report from the Pesticides Safety Directorate.
Pesticide residues
Percentage of fruit and vegetables with pesticide residues 1998-2000
Marks & Spencer 63%
Somerfield 59%
Sainsbury's 49%
Asda 48%
Safeway 46%
Tesco 45%
Co-op 44%
Morrisons 39%
Waitrose 29%
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