In uk.rec.gardening Oz wrote:
: Tim Tyler writes
:In uk.rec.gardening Michael Saunby wrote:

:: By contrast, the artificial toxins have been designed to be tasteless and
:: invisible to consumers.
:
:: And safe!
:
:Indeed - but that often appears to be a secondary requirement.

: Not to the regulators, and they have the say that counts.

You might think - yet unsafe levels of pesticides are still turning
up in produce on supermarket shelves - e.g. in Asda this year:

``Spanish spinach from Asda tested by the pesticide residues
committee exceeded legal and safety limits. Residues of the
pesticide methomyl were found at 240% of the safety level
for toddlers and 150% of that for adults.

Methomyl is a carbamate pesticide which affects the nervous
system and is suspected of interfering with the hormone
system.

Four samples of Heinz baby food, one of Farley's and one of
Boots organic baby cereal were found to contain levels of
residues which would be illegal under new regulations.

Babies, whose immune and hormone systems are immature, are
thought to be at greater risk from pesticide residues. EU
legislation last July reduced the legal limit to almost
zero, but the six samples were taken before the regulations
came into force.

The committee said in the case of the spinach the "safety
margins would be significantly eroded" and it was possible
that symptoms such as "increased salivation, upset stomach
or mild headache could occur but would be shortlived".

About a quarter of chips tested also contained residues.
Aldicarb, a pesticide which may soon be withdrawn from use
in the EU, was found in chips from two fish and chip shops
in Telford and Carlisle.

More than half the samples of bread contained residues, with
16 of them having residues of more than one pesticide.

Nearly three-quarters of dried fruit samples, over a third
of apples, a quarter of melons and a third of celery samples
also came up positive.

Friends of the Earth campaigner Sandra Bell said the latest
results were a serious concern.

"We remain very worried that supposedly healthy food
contains pesticides which exceed the safety levels for
toddlers," she said.

An Asda spokeswoman said the company had rigorous controls
in place.

"We and our suppliers test thousands of products every year
and just a handful are found to contain pesticide residues
that exceed the maximum residue limit," she said.''

- http://society.guardian.co.uk/public...903928,00.html
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|im |yler http://timtyler.org/