Among 1,996 food samples studied by the NGO Générations Futures, more than 60% had at least one pesticide residue detected; fruits and vegetables being the most contaminated.
- “Too many dangerous pesticides are still used and end up on our plates,” denounces the NGO Générations Futures in its new report on pesticide residues found in food.
- Some 137 different active substances were detected in the 1,996 samples of 35 types of non-organic foods studied.
- In detail, fruits more frequently contain at least one pesticide residue detected (80% of samples) than vegetables (48%) or cereals (56%).
“Too many dangerous pesticides are still used and end up on our plates”, denounces the NGO Générations Futures in its new report on pesticide residues found in food. “Efforts should be made as a priority to accelerate the release of pesticide substances classified as CMR [Cancérigène, Mutagène, Reprotoxique, ndlr] or PE [Perturbateur Endocrinien, ndlr] or which are PFAS…and improve the evaluation processes!”And for good reason, the document published this December 17, 2024, shows that 62% of the 1,996 samples studied among non-organic foods sold in France in 2022, present at least one dangerous pesticide residue detected.
Pesticide residues: 137 different active substances detected
A pesticide residue is a remainder of active substances, metabolites and/or products resulting from the degradation of pesticides, which can be found in the environment, including water, air and food.
As part of this report, Générations Futures was interested in residues detected and not quantified, which makes it possible to include pesticide residues present below the quantification thresholds. Thus, some 137 different active substances were detected in the 1,996 samples of 35 types of non-organic foods studied.
“Fruits more frequently contain at least one pesticide residue detected (80% of samples) than vegetables (48%) or cereals (56%).”, details the report. Among the wines studied, 73% of the products also contained at least one pesticide residue.
The fruits and vegetables most contaminated by pesticide residues
The NGO analyzed different types of pesticide residues: Carcinogenic Mutagenic Reprotoxic (CMR), endocrine disruptors (PE) and PFAS.
The fruits containing the most CMR are cherries (90%), followed by limes (88%), clementines/tangerines (84%), strawberries (74%) and grapes (79%). The vegetables in which these substances are most found are fennel (46%), salads (43%), zucchini (38%) and peppers (32%).
Regarding endocrine disruptors, clementines/mandarins are the most contaminated (92%), then grapes (88%), plums (88%) and cherries (85%). As for vegetables, PE contamination mainly affects cucumbers.
Finally, at least one PFAS pesticide residue detected was found in 71% of cherry samples, 54% of strawberry samples and 50% of grape samples. More than 20% of the vegetables analyzed also contain it, notably cucumbers (52%), endives (50%), eggplants (40%) and peppers (40%). “The most frequently detected pesticide active substance in the 1,996 samples studied was fluopyram, an SDHI fungicide, and belonging to the PFAS chemical family.”, specifies the NGO.
Pesticide residues in food, what are the risks?
“We must differentiate between the dangerousness of a substance (carcinogenic, PE, reprotoxic, etc.) and the health risk.”, nuance François Veillerette, spokesperson for Générations Futures, in a press conference held this Tuesday morning. “To know if there is a risk you need to know the volume of exposure. However, we, through this data, do not know it. Simply, as a precaution, we think it is better to try to avoid exposing the population to these substances, especially since there is also the cocktail effect to take into account.” The spokesperson also emphasizes the importance of continuing to eat five fruits and vegetables daily despite everything, as recommended by PNNS.
To reduce the risk of exposure, the NGO calls on the government to “strong support measures for the consumption of organic foods”, particularly in collective catering. “We also ask the new government to really relaunch the Ecophyto plan and the ambition to significantly reduce the use of pesticides in agriculture by reversing the change in indicator and setting binding reduction objectives.”, she adds.
Another emergency for Future Generations: “stop exports of dangerous active substances banned in France and Europe which will then be found in the form of residues in imported food products…and to systematically activate mirror clauses in international trade agreements!”