Pesticide cocktails found in apples sold across Europe
Pan Europe, a coalition of NGOs, said it found toxic "pesticide cocktails" in apples sold across Europe. The group had about 60 apples bought in 13 European countries – including France, Spain, Italy and Poland – analysed and found 85% of samples contained several pesticide residues, with some apples showing traces of up to seven different chemicals.
Pan Europe said 71% of the samples contained pesticides classed among the most hazardous in the EU, described as "candidates for substitution" that the bloc aims to phase out as soon as possible, and 64% contained at least one per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), also known as "forever chemicals".
The coalition warned of a "cocktail effect" from simultaneous exposure to several pesticides and noted that pesticide residues are permitted in the EU below certain maximum levels. Martin Dermine, a senior official at the coalition, criticised the European Food Safety Authority for assessing pesticides individually: "In this report, we show that 85% of the apples have multiple residues, and we don’t know if they are safe for consumption or not," he said, pointing to potential links to cancer and infertility.
Pan Europe said that if the same apples were sold as processed baby food, 93% of the samples would be banned because their pesticide residues exceed the stricter limits set for children under three, and advised consumers to buy organic apples or peel conventionally grown ones before eating them.
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