Key
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A company is taking concrete actions for a specific criterion and describes in some detail the aims and methods. |
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A company mentions the issue but gives no detail on how this is implemented, or lacks targets or reporting on progress. |
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A company may be addressing the issue, but does not provide any information on it, or the information is too vague to judge whether it is making a genuine effort. |
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There is no policy commitment or no information provided for consumers. |
Why PAN UK did this comparison
We are often asked by members of the public and journalists ‘which UK supermarkets are the best on pesticides’? In 2007 we published Pesticides on a Plate: a consumer guide to pesticide issues in the food chain, in which we included our main demands to British supermarkets on pesticide issues we want them to address in their supply chains. Supermarkets wield a huge amount of influence over growers, produce traders and consumers. PAN UK calls on them to use this influence to support farmers and growers to change to safer pest management. We hope that publishing this comparison shows which companies are taking the most positive steps for change and will encourage individual consumers and concerned citizens to push the other companies to follow their good example.
What we found
Our assessment clearly shows 3 companies doing most to address different issues of concern on pesticide use and contamination of food: The Cooperative; Marks & Spencer; and Sainsbury’s. At the other end, Aldi, Lidl and Morrisons appear to be doing nothing. In the middle, Asda, Somerfield, Tesco and Waitrose are making some efforts but could go a lot further, particularly on removing specific hazardous pesticides from use and reducing residues in their food.
One area that all companies do badly on is reducing use of pesticides to produce cosmetically perfect fresh produce. Talking to agronomists, many agree that less pesticide could be used if retailers and consumers were more willing to accept minor blemishes or spotting, for example, on citrus and apples. This is a good illustration of how consumers are also partly responsible for current high levels of reliance on pesticides. PAN UK is keen to explore ways of educating consumers and buyer staff in supermarkets on this issue and to support ways for growers to sell more of any second grade produce at a fair price. Several retailers recently introduced ranges of small or non-uniform size or appearance, in order to cut back on waste, for environmental benefit and economic benefits to consumers and growers. This should be expanded to address cosmetic pesticide use.
Beyond residues
PAN UK looks at aspects of pesticide use beyond presence of pesticide residues in food. We welcome the targets and actions underway by Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s in particular to reduce levels of pesticide contamination and work towards residue-free production, however, residues are just one part of the picture. In our view, it is just as important to consider pesticide exposure of farmers and farm workers, wildlife and the environment. Taking measures to phase out or eliminate specific hazardous pesticides makes a real contribution to reducing health and environmental impacts. However, we are disappointed that no retailer has yet prohibited the use of the insecticide endosulfan or the herbicide paraquat, both toxic and highly problematic pesticides. Although neither is now permitted for use in the EU, there is widespread use in other parts of the world, linked to high levels of poisoning in developing countries, which is why PAN globally is campaigning for their banning. Endosulfan use is ‘by permission only’ in the Co-op and Marks & Spencer global supply chains. We urge all UK retailers to phase out paraquat and endosulfan use as a top priority, following the good examples set by Rainforest Alliance, Fair Trade and Utz Coffee label schemes and other food companies.
Transparency
We support the public right to know about pesticides used in the production of their food and applaud those supermarkets that publish the results of their own residue testing programmes and urge the others to follow suit. Many consumers and public interest groups are interested to know more about pesticide issues and we therefore included such information on company websites as a specific criterion. PAN UK calls on retailers to provide more information on plans, progress, successes and challenges in pesticide hazard and use reduction. For better transparency, we call on retailers to publish in detail which pesticides they prohibit or restrict, as the Co-op and Marks & Spencer do.
Sharing best practices and supporting change
To reduce reliance on pesticides and promote safer alternatives, growers need technical advice and a supportive relationship with their retailer customers to help them change practices. Retailers face common challenges, such as high levels of fungicide use applied after harvest and which often persist as residues in food. Closer collaboration to work on solutions is needed. Setting up action groups of growers and crop advisors to work together and test different methods for phasing out particular problematic pesticides and develop effective Integrated Pest Management strategies is one of the most useful ways to do this, as well as funding research. Under Integrated Pest Management non-chemical methods to control pests, diseases and weeds are favoured and pesticides only used as a last resort.
Co-op, Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s are clearly putting their money where their mouth is, to foster change in farming practice, rather than just impose it. However, there is a need to share experiences and methods across the sector so that more growers can implement these, especially in developing countries. Experience sharing and developing best practice for pesticide reduction in specific cropping systems is much needed since all European growers will need to adopt Integrated Pest Management by 2014 under new EU legislation. Progressive companies can make a real contribution to achieving this policy target. PAN UK calls on those retailers doing excellent advisory work and research to be more proactive in sharing successful techniques for pesticide reduction and making technical information available in the public domain.
How we did it
We looked only at information publicly available on retailers’ websites during Dec 2008-January 2009 or via Google (e.g. presentations at conferences or info on other organisations collaborating with specific retailers). We didn’t attempt a scoring or ranking because the information is mainly descriptive and provided in different levels of detail. Also, consumers may consider different aspects most important for them, such as residue reduction, or phasing out particular pesticides known to cause poisonings in developing countries. This assessment allows users to identify issues most important to them. PAN UK will repeat the assessment every 6 months and update these webpages on changes made by individual retailers.
What you can do
If you are concerned about pesticide issues and want to see the supermarket where you shop take more action to reduce use, residues and support growers to change practices, please contact the customer services and corporate social responsibility departments. The link below takes you to the email and postal address for each retailer, along with a sample letter you can copy or adapt. click here
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Supermarkets
