Nearly two thirds of non-organic fruits (73.1%) and almost half of vegetables (45.8%) contained at least one pesticide residue from 2017 to 2021, according to a study conducted by Générations futures published Thursday February 22, less than a month after the announcement of the pause of the Ecophyto plan in France.
On a previous study covering the previous five years (2012 to 2017) carried out by the same association, which is based on “the results of the monitoring plans relating to pesticide residues carried out by the French authorities” – in particular those of the management General Competition, Consumption and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF) – 71.9% of fruits sold in France and 43.3% of vegetables were affected.
Among the 21 fruits studied between 2017 and 2021, by a specialized engineer, on behalf of the NGO, some are in a particularly critical situation: thus 93.8% of cherry samples contain traces of at least one pesticide. More than 80% even contain traces of several pesticides. Grapefruits (91.1%), nectarines and peaches (90.2%), grapes (88.3%) and even clementines, tangerines and oranges (87.2%) are also among the worst performers.
The amount of pesticides in some fruits even exceeds the “maximum residue limit” (MRL): the maximum level legally allowed in food. This is particularly the case for passion fruit (37.2% with at least one pesticide residue exceeding the limit), pineapples (22.6%) and pomegranates (18.8%).
For the 31 vegetables studied, 78.3% of celeriac, 69% of melons and 67.7% of endives contained at least one pesticide residue. Those exceeding the MRLs the most are, in order, fresh herbs (13.8%), celeriac (12.7%) and salads (12.1%).
“The presence of pesticides in plant foods remains more relevant than ever”
This study shows “that the presence of pesticides in plant foods remains more relevant than ever and requires the implementation of proactive and restrictive agricultural policies aimed at reducing our dependence on these synthetic inputs”, underlines Générations futures in a communicated.
To calm the anger of farmers, the Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, announced, on February 1, the “pause” of the Ecophyto plan, aimed at reducing the use of pesticides in France, “the time to put in place a new measurement indicator to replace the current one, the NODU (number of unit doses).
On Wednesday, he announced that the latter would be replaced by the European tool HRI-1 (“harmonized risk indicator”), a few days before the opening of the Agricultural Show, arousing the anger and incomprehension of defenders of the environment.
The government, however, affirmed that it did not want to “give up on [the] ambition to reduce the use of pesticides by 50% by 2030”. A decree aimed at banning the importation into France of food products treated with thiacloprid, a neonicotinoid deemed dangerous for insects and human health, should be published on Friday.