We don’t count anymore the benefits tea, whether black or green. Yet this plant, adored by more than half of the French, does not only have 20/20. The association “60 million consumers” has just made him pass the pesticide test and it did not have a good mark …
The leaves are not cleaned
Out of the 16 black teas and the 10 green teas in bags, of different brands, which have been analyzed, absolutely all of them contain pesticides! For some, up to 17 different pesticides have been found. This is because the tea leaves are not cleaned after harvest in order to keep all the flavors. Benjamin Douriez, editor-in-chief of “60 million Consumers” and interviewed at the microphone from Europe1, reassures however by specifying that the quantities are low and most often below the authorized limits.
The big surprise concerns the organic tea bags. They also contain traces of chemical pesticides, but nevertheless in lower quantities than other products. An organic tea still stands out when it exceeds the authorized limit value. This is because pesticides also travel through the air and can pass from one field to another.
Lack of regulation for a toxic molecule
To the pesticides found, is added a natural but toxic molecule: the alkaloid. Patricia Chairopoulos, journalist in the association, explains at Europe 1 that if the tea is poorly sorted during harvest, weeds can mix with the leaves and secrete these molecules considered carcinogenic to humans. The concern with alkaloids is that there are no regulations. This is also why the Kusmi Tea brand had chosen to withdraw, at the beginning of the year, several of these products that can contain up to 380 times the dose at which this substance could be harmful to health.
Experts advise to change the brand of tea regularly, at least once a month, in order to avoid too much consumption of dangerous products.
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