UK Consumer Magazine "Which?" Warns Of Pesticide Residues In Food

Dow Jones Newswires 6sep01

LONDON -- A review of the results of the U.K. government's last four years of tests for pesticide residues in food shows that some fruit and vegetables consistently contain residues, the Consumers' Association Which? magazine said in a press release Thursday.

While most fruit and vegetables contained no detectable residues, others such as lettuce, celery, carrots, grapes and strawberries all contained pesticide residues, in some cases exceeding legal limits, Which? said.

The magazine advises consumers to either wash and peel the food that contained residues or to buy organic varieties.

A single high-dose trace of pesticide residue in a fruit can cause short-term effects such as a stomach upset, however, the effects of long-term exposition are still unknown, the magazine added.

The government's latest tests on pesticide residues on food are due out this month.