An entire batch of strawberries from Greece has been urgently withdrawn from store shelves, because the fruit endangers people’s health. The competent authorities in Greece have already been informed about this issue.
A full batch of strawberries from Greece, urgently withdrawn from stores
The National Veterinary Sanitary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) immediately withdrew from sale a complete batch of strawberries from Greece. During checks carried out as part of the self-control program, high levels of karanjin, a pesticide not authorized in the European Union (EU), were identified.
The pesticide concentration found in the tested samples exceeded the legal limit by six times. The situation was considered particularly serious because the contaminated fruit could have affected the health of consumers. ANSVSA has already informed the competent authorities in Greece about this issue.
The highest concentrations of residues were identified in strawberries. They came either from the applied treatments or from insecticides. The information comes from a US study and includes: apples, pears, grapes, cabbage, spinach and peaches. In contrast, the list of foods considered to be less contaminated include: onions, spinach, corn and pineapple.
Traders carefully monitor the production process of fruits and vegetables. It urges customers to consume them without reservation. However, doctors warn us to be cautious about the food we buy and where it comes from because long-term consumption of vegetables contaminated with pesticides can increase the risk of serious illnesses.
What effect do pesticides have on the human body?
According to the American Environmental Protection Association, the sum of exposures to a particular pesticide or class of pesticides, in all approved uses, should not exceed the accepted daily dose. Adverse effects caused by human exposure to pesticides can be of two types:
- either of the acute type, manifesting immediately after contact;
- either chronic, as a result of repeated exposure over time;
In the early stages of life and during puberty. Exposure to pesticides can be extremely dangerous given the heightened sensitivity during these critical developmental periods. Children are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of pesticides during sensitive developmental stages, including the fetal period, the first year of life, during childhood, especially in the early stages and during puberty. Infants can also be exposed to pesticide poisoning through breast milk.
Pregnant women, those who are breastfeeding and in general women in the fertile period exposed to pesticides can suffer serious consequences, which can directly affect their health, causing endocrine disorders, cancer or infertility. This exposure may also have adverse effects on the fetus or breast-fed newborns.
In adulthood. Scientific studies indicate a potential association between long-term consumption of dairy products and an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease. This link is determined by the presence of agricultural pesticide residues in cow’s milk, coming from their feed. Research has also revealed that long-term exposure to pesticides can influence the modification of genes associated with the development of Parkinson’s disease.
