When you go down to the supermarket today, read these labels..

by Kenneth Keavey

I had a remarkable revelation in the supermarket the other day. As I was browsing the fresh produce aisle as I always do when in a supermarket, I noticed something that really caught my eye.

It was actually quiet refreshing for a change. Reviewing each of the labels on the citrus products, they were clearly marked with the chemicals/fungicides that had been applied to the skin of the oranges, lemons, limes and mandarins. A few weeks back I was wondering if the pesticides that were used in growing carrots were highlighted on the pack would we change our behaviour?

And how is it that it comes down to the organic farmer to prove his/her produce is chemical free, why doesn’t the conventional produce list all the chemicals used in the growing of the crop? Well at least with citrus fruit we have the post-harvest treatments clearly outlined, this is the law in the EU.

It was quite a timely consideration as during the week we had one of our annual organic inspections and we were informed a sample of our produce will be sent away for screening for a mind-blowing list of chemicals (870 last time), more on that at a later date.

Anyway, back to the oranges. I am not sure that many people notice the chemicals though as it is hidden away in small print, nevertheless showing all these postharvest fungicides and wax treatments is a very good thing, as we can make more informed choices about our food. It is also worth noting that it is stated on all the labels that the skin is not suitable for eating!!

Here are some of the chemicals I found on the labels and their scientifically linked safety considerations. Also this is for an individual chemical most of the fruit I examined at up to 4 different treatments per piece of fruit.

1) Imazalil: Possible endocrine effects. The EFSA (European food safety authority) has evaluated imazalil repeatedly; the substance has raised endocrine/ecotoxicity questions in the past. Carcinogenicity concerns: possible/likely carcinogen based on animal data.

2) Thiabendazole EFSA peer-review concluded thiabendazole can affect thyroid hormone systems in animals. That is an important regulatory finding. Carcinogenicity/reprotoxicity: animal studies have shown some reproductive/developmental effects at high doses.

3) Pyrimethanil: Some experimental studies show reproductive or developmental effects in animals at high doses.

4) Fludioxonil: EFSA identified fludioxonil for endocrine-related effects.

5) Boscalid: It can be persistent in the environment

6) Azoxystrobin: Some studies indicate potential for oxidative stress and endocrine-related effects in experimental systems.

I am sure there are more, and this excludes the waxes that are also used to coat most conventional citrus fruit.

Not an entirely benign concoction, and not a cocktail of chemicals that I would particularly like to have on my food, thank you very much. I am sure you are wondering how an orange is not suitable for vegans. Well, one of the waxes that can sometimes be used, in particular E904 or Shellac (this is a resin secreted by a bug!), make the fruit unsuitable for vegans!

So, if you do buy conventional citrus fruit, please note again that it is advised that the skin is basically inedible or unsafe due to these chemicals (read the labels it actually states it there) so please don’t use the zest for cooking, much better to choose organic, and if you want to steer clear of these and other chemicals better where you can to choose organic entirely.

As always thank you for your support

Kenneth

Chemical Carrots, you might be surprised…

by Kenneth Keavey

We have been harvesting our own lovely bunched fresh organic carrots for a few weeks now and this week we received the first delivery of beautiful organic carrots from Philip Dreaper in Coolnagrower in Offaly just outside Birr.

In the next couple of weeks, we are due our farm organic inspection. This is an inspection we pay for to prove that we are carrying out our farming and business in accordance with organic principles. One key law of course is that we must never use synthetic chemicals. We must be certified organic by law to call our produce ‘organic’.

We would never use toxic pesticides or herbicides anyway, as farming without chemicals is why I started the farm.

But the question is why do we need to prove we are organic? Why isn’t the responsibility on conventional food producer to label the pesticides used in growing certain crops? (don’t get me wrong organic certification is definitely necessary in the world we live in today)

Back in my grandad’s day, there were only ‘carrots’ and all carrots were organic. They just were, because no synthetic chemicals or fertiliser was used in growing them.There were no sprays, no synthetic pesticides, herbicides or fungicides, nothing. That is exactly how we grow them today, we sow seed, and we cover the crop with netting and then we harvest end of story, no spraying at all.

These synthetic pesticides are labelled… “plant protection products” sounds so much better than “pesticide” don’t you think? Making these toxic chemicals sound more benign, even good for the planet and our health. It sounds like spraying these chemicals is doing us all a favour including all the bees and biodiversity the application of these “PPPs” is doing something good for the world in using them. This couldn’t of course be further from the truth, they are hurting our health and destroying biodiversity. In addition did you know it is mostly the manufacturers that produce the safety related data for the chemicals they sell, a conflict of interest there? I would say so. So if your supermarket label listed the following on your conventional carrots, would you still buy them?

Ingredients: may contain,“Carrots, Glyphosate, aclonifen, prosulfocarb, clomazone, prosulfocarb/stomp, fluazifop-P-butyl, propaquizafop, quizalofop-P-ethyl, fluazifop-P-butyl, azoxystrobin, fluazinam, cyprodinil+fludioxonil, boscalid+pyraclostrobin, tebuconazole/trifloxystrobin mixes”

Or would you choose organic carrots where the label would say:Ingredients: contains “Organic Carrots”

I know which one I would choose.

As we supply directly to you our customers, it is only through your continued support that we can continue to produce healthy food and spread the message that our food choices can literally change the world.

Thank you

Kenneth