A new survey conducted by 60 million consumers reveals that some jams sold in supermarkets contain pesticides, including two banned from use in the European Union because of their harmfulness.
- In 2020, 146,637 tonnes of jam were produced in France, according to the Federation of Preserved Food Industries (Fiac).
- The 60 million consumers association analyzed the composition of 40 jars of strawberry and apricot jam sold in supermarkets.
- “We found 15 molecules of different insecticides or fungicides in 22 of the 40 references analyzed”, indicates the association.
At breakfast, as a snack or to complement a cheese platter, jams are still popular with the French! As proof, the Federation of Preserved Food Industries (Fiac) estimates production at 146,637 tonnes in 2020, which places France among the world leaders in this field. If the recipe seems simple, with fruit and sugar in equal quantities, other products can however end up in the jars… such as pesticide residues.
40 jam jars from supermarkets analyzed by 60 million consumers
“To see more clearly, we bought 40 jars of the most common jams”, details the consumer association, opting for strawberry and apricot products because they are “best-selling flavors”.
After analyzing the compositions, they checked whether or not pesticides were present, by measuring nearly 600 of these chemicals in the laboratory. “The results of our tests reveal the great diversity of manufacturers’ approaches… as well as a very variable contamination of pesticides.”
Pesticides still present after cooking fruit
Results ? “We found 15 molecules of different insecticides or fungicides in 22 of the 40 references analyzed”, indicates the association. The most contaminated jams are those with apricot. This is explained in particular by the way strawberries are grown, most often above ground, with greater control of the environment. “Reflets de France strawberry jam (Carrefour brand) still contains five fungicides or insecticides”, nuances 60 million consumers. The worst is nevertheless found in four jars of apricot jam from the brands Auchan, Confipote, Gerblé and Paquito, because they contain two pesticides banned from use in the European Union because of their harmfulness: carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl . “There are also traces of carbendazim in the light apricot jam Andros”, they add in their April 2023 monthly issue.
“Even if these pesticides have potentially toxic effects (allergy, harmfulness for the environment, even impacts on fertility or the health of the fetus), all are at concentrations well below the regulatory thresholds.”, reassures the association. However, for consumers concerned about avoiding these chemical elements, the analyzes show that it is better to favor jams labeled organic, because none of the ten organic jars tested in this panel revealed traces of pesticides.
To find out more: Jams: undesirable pesticides, Strawberry and apricot, 40 products analyzed – 60 Million consumers, April 2023
