The Forever Chemicals In Your Food Basket

Pesticides are forever 

New testing by the Environment Department’s advisory committee on pesticide residues on common foods has found worrying levels of PFA toxins or so-called ‘forever chemicals’ in the food we eat.

PFA chemicals come from pesticides that are routinely used across the country and unlike some toxins they accumulate in the body and have been linked to serious health conditions such as cancer. 

The Pesticide Action Network UK (Pan UK) has called for a ban on 25 PFA pesticides used in the UK calling them “absolutely unnecessary for growing food and are an easily avoidable source of PFA pollution”.

They say: “Given the growing body of evidence linking PFAS to serious diseases such as cancer, it is deeply worrying that UK consumers are being left with no choice but to ingest these chemicals, some of which may remain in their bodies long into the future. With some plastic food packaging also contaminated with PFAS, and PFAS present in UK drinking water and soil, we urgently need to develop a better understanding of the health risks associated with ingesting these ‘forever chemicals’ and do everything we can to exclude them from the food chain.”  Nick Mole, Policy Officer, PAN UK
 

Poisonous produce

The worst offenders were found to be non-organic strawberries, grapes, cherries, spinach and tomatoes with a staggering 97% of non-organic strawberries analysed containing PFA pesticides.

Whilst you might be forgiven for thinking that washing your fruit and veg before eating would be all that is needed to remove the pesticides, but they are absorbed into the plant and no amount of scrubbing will lessen the impact.

We believe that conventional farming methods are increasingly unsustainable. These chemicals have infiltrated our food chain and environment without a comprehensive understanding of their long-term effects, polluting soil and waterways in the process. This reckless disregard for human health and environmental well-being underscores the urgent need for meaningful reform in our agricultural systems.
 

The organic option

Thankfully, organic offers a safer alternative. Organic farming prohibits the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, resulting in significantly lower levels of pesticide residues in food products.

Our organic farmers rely on natural methods of pest control, such as crop rotation, beneficial insect habitats, and composting, to manage pests and maintain soil fertility. These practices also support biodiversity and promote healthy ecosystems.

GMO’s, engineered to tolerate high levels of chemical pesticides are never a feature of the organic farm, reducing the reliance on toxic pesticides and helping prevent the spread of pesticide-resistant weeds and insects, which can lead to increased pesticide use over time, causing a Catch-22 of toxicity. 

We join the chorus of researchers, scientists and farmers calling for a ban on PFA pesticides. If you want to show your support, then shop organic and seasonally where you can. If you can only afford to buy a limited amount of organic food, then concentrate on the “dirty dozen” fruit and veg, organic meat and dairy where the benefits will be maximised.

Together let's stop this toxic legacy.