Read the full article by Marta Pacheco (Euronews Green)
“Residues of toxic ‘forever chemicals’ substances traceable on fruit and vegetables has reportedly tripled in the EU over the last 10 years, according to an NGO report published today (27 February).
The Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe report purported to track residues of 31 Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — known as ‘forever chemicals’ because they are impossible to eradicate — in fruit and vegetables in the EU between 2011 and 2021.
The study, based on official data from the national monitoring programmes of pesticide residues in food, focused on Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands and Spain, with references to other EU countries in the analysis.
According to the assessment, over the past decade the number of non-biologic fruits and vegetables showing PFAS residues — as determined by their detectability, rather than whether legal levels had been exceeded — rose by 220% for fruit and by 274% for vegetables, with the most distinct average increase being registered for apricots (+333%), peaches (+362%) and strawberries (+534%).” …