Does the food we eat have pesticides?

| Although the World Health Organization recognizes that the use of pesticides in food can be toxic to humans, their use helps protect crops from insects, fungi and pests.

The reality is that there are. There are pesticide residue that do not disappear completely and enter what we call the food or trophic chain. But it is also true that maximum residue limits are established for these pesticides, and in fact the European Union has the most demanding legislation in this regard.

In recent years, more demanding agricultural practices have been implemented including the integrated pest management, the responsible use of pesticides and plant biotechnology solutions. The controls and actions carried out have led to conclusions such as that of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2016: «97% of food samples collected in the European Union (EU) do not contain pesticide residues or contain traces that are not within the legal limits ”.

What the WHO says about pesticides

As we can read on the website of the World Health Organization, pesticides are used to protect crops from insects, weeds, fungi and other pests. Similarly, WHO recognizes that these products can be toxic to humans and cause, acute and chronic, depending on the amount and mode of exposure. Even some of the oldest and cheapest pesticides can stay in soil and water for years. That is why their use in agriculture has been banned in developed countries, but they continue to be used in some.

Exposure to these products entails higher risks for people who come into contact with them at work, their home or their garden. And finally it concludes that, to protect consumers from the harmful effects of pesticides, WHO itself examines the available scientific data and establishes maximum residue limits that are accepted internationally.

Remember that…

• The simple one reduces the presence of dirt, germs and pesticide residues that are on the surface of fruits and vegetables. According to the WHO, peeling or washing fruits and vegetables is a practice that significantly reduces the exposure of pesticides, as well as microorganisms dangerous to health.

Bachelor of Food Science and Technology Diploma in Human Nutrition and Dietetics