Chapter 6 - Pesticides in a third of all our food

Pesticides in a third of all our food

Research have shown that more than one third of the food tested actually contains more than the limiting legal thing found on the food. Further researches confirm that there is actually pesticide in those foods. However, it was lucky to know that most food is just below or at the maximum permitted level.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/breakfast/4585353.stm

A weak dosage of these chemical or pesticides is not very harmful to our body. Before allowing the use of pesticide on food, there is always a check done on the amount of pesticide allowed to remain in the food. We often consider the

1) Toxicity of the pesticide and its break-down produce.
2) How much pesticide is applied
3) How much pesticide remains in or on the food when marketing or preparing

This would ensure the food to be saved for consuming. There is also food test conducted by the United States and only when it passed the test, it can be export to other countries.

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/index.htm

My point of view

From what I can see, pesticide is not really a big problem when we eat in small amount. It is only when huge portions of the food are eaten, and then there would be danger of getting food poisoning. Also, there are usually strict regulations for the food that is imported from other countries. So normally the food we have is usually safe to eat.

This can also be a serious matter as there are also animals eating the fruits or food. If they happen to eat these pesticide filled food, they may also get sick and die. This would affect the food chain of the eco-system. Thus it is very important to keep the pesticide in the food as low as possible.

19-05-2007, 3.55am