Shoppers in Taiwan need to be beware that the juicy kumquats sitting on supermarket shelves may also contain a cocktail of potent chemicals.
Greenpeace Taiwan have taken 58 pieces of fresh fruit and vegetables from supermarket chains all across the countries, and found that 43 of these tested for pesticides - a whopping 36 different kinds of pesticide residue. Not only that, 25 of these fruit and vegetable samples had more than three kinds of different pesticides on each sample, with one kumquat containing up to nine. We're asking these supermarkets to put an end to the use of highly toxic pesticides in fresh produce and to establish a system for tracking and monitoring.
In Carrefour testing revealed leeks testing positive for the pesticide carbendazim, in excess of 2.7 times the safe limit, thereby putting the reproductive system of consumers at possible risk. Even where pesticide levels didn't exceed legal levels, the "cocktail effect" of mixing such a number of pesticides is harmful to human health, and puts people at a risk far greater than a single pesticide poisoning.
Continue to Greenpeace Taiwan for more (in traditional Chinese), including the full report for download.
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