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Residues above the MRL in stated
foods Unauthorised chemicals detected |
The Australian New Zealand Food Authority
has released results of the 1994 Australian Market Basket Survey, which
researches pesticide residues in a range of food stuff. It concluded that
Australian food contained very low levels of pesticide residues. However, only
17 of 77 foodstuffs were free of pesticides and Henry Osiecki, a Queensland
nutritionist believes the results are frightening. He said the assessments
ignored the cumulative effects of chemicals. For example, the 13 chemicals found
in apples represented five different groups of pesticides, Mr Osiecki said.
In all, 60 foods yield low levels of pesticides, although
some contained only one or two chemicals. Those food groups which contained
multi-pesticide residues were apples (13), beans (8), capsicums (15), carrots
(8), celery (11), white bread (6), and wholemeal bread (8).
The Sunday Mail (Australia) 12/1/97.
[This
article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 35,
March 1997, page 16]