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Bangladesh: Pesticides in dried fish processing

Posted by Flora Sawita Labels: , , , ,


(The Financial Express-Bd) Allegations of widespread pesticide use in dried fish processing have once again been coming in from various coastal regions in Bangladesh. As reported in a contemporary on Saturday, 25 Feb 2012, many involved in the trade have been found soaking the raw fish in pesticide (ripcord, submicron, DDT, NOGOS, basudin, diosgenin, formalin, etc) solutions prior to putting them up to dry. This goes to show that there has been precious little in the way of raising awareness against the dangerous practice although successive governments have been alerted long ago --- ever since this health hazard was reported in the early 1980s. According to the Bangladesh Fish Development Corporation (BFDC) in 2010-2011 period, the fish catch amounted to some 3.1 million metric tonnes. On average about 10 per cent of an annual catch is sun-dried, for home consumption as well as export, and many of the traders choose to apply pesticides in a bid to keep flies and maggots away. And they do it at their peril, as well as that of the ultimate consumers.

Thousands of workers are found using their bare hands to mix the poisons without the foggiest notion about the short and long-term health effects. NOGOS for example can destroy nerve cells, result in heart attacks, spontaneous abortion, stomach cramps, vomiting and other adverse effects, the degree of poisoning depending on dose and duration. People in general seem to be ignorant about the dangers and the government itself is hardly up to the task of monitoring pesticide use or abuse, wherever it may be . Many of the worst kinds, though officially banned here, are still available, and reportedly, even sold without names or with labels that do not match the contents. This clearly increases the health risks. Reliable statistics on pesticide casualties may not be available but reports of deaths and sufferings from chronic effects are common enough.

The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research ( IEDCR), investigating cases of 'mysterious' deaths in some villages in recent years had found evidence of extreme callousness in the handling of these agrochemicals, some of which belong to the banned 'dirty dozen' group known as POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants). These have been condemned globally decades ago, and in Bangladesh too they are officially banned. Yet, some of the nastiest are found to be in use, not only on dried fish and on cropland but to 'manage' public health. A functioning central register, or list, of pesticides available in Bangladesh could bring some discipline in the sector and give an adequate idea of the use and abuse of such poisons. The Department of Environment is said to control the country's pesticide registration scheme but strangely there is no specific legislation for controlling their production or use.

The deadliest pesticides can wreck the human body and mind ---- the nervous, reproductive, immune systems and the brain itself. Pesticide residues turn up virtually everywhere in Bangladesh, in ground water and in foods, causing many adverse health effects of 'unknown' origins. Some studies link these pollutants to serious diseases, including cancer and other subtle but potent health problems, such as systemic damage to the endocrine, immune and nervous systems. With such information at hand it should be considered a dereliction of duty if awareness against indiscriminate use of pesticides is not revved up. The government's relevant ministries and departments ---- agriculture, environment, health, commerce ---- all need to put their heads together for long-term solutions to the grave risks posed by the continuing use of the highly toxic pesticides.

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Pesticide in juice: Coca Cola says ok, expert says no

Posted by Flora Sawita Labels: , , ,

Edited and translated by Ye Xin

In late December, Coca-Cola Co alerted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it had detected low levels of carbendazim in its own juice, as well as in samples taken from a competitor's orange juice and juice concentrate imported from Brazil.

In addition, Coca-Cola China said in a statement on its website on Jan 12 that Orange juice containing extremely small amount of the fungicide will not cause health hazards.

However, Professor John W.S. Ho from the Department of Biochemistry under the Chinese University of Hong Kong challenged the interpretation. He pointed out that the carbendazim, like other pesticides, has the greatest impact on brain and it can cause partial paralysis.

In China, this kind of orange juice Minute Maid produced by Coca-Cola is still on sale in supermarkets and stores.

Some of consumers, who bought Minute Maid said they never heard this news, some adopted an indifferent attitude and only a few of the consumers said they will never buy the drink in the future.

In late December, Coca-Cola Co alerted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it had detected low levels of carbendazim in its own juice, as well as in samples taken from a competitor's orange juice and juice concentrate imported from Brazil.

In addition, Coca-Cola China said in a statement on its website on Jan 12 that Orange juice containing extremely small amount of the fungicide will not cause health hazards.

However, Professor John W.S. Ho from the Department of Biochemistry under the Chinese University of Hong Kong challenged the interpretation. He pointed out that the carbendazim, like other pesticides, has the greatest impact on brain and it can cause partial paralysis.

In China, this kind of orange juice Minute Maid produced by Coca-Cola is still on sale in supermarkets and stores.

Some of consumers, who bought Minute Maid said they never heard this news, some adopted an indifferent attitude and only a few of the consumers said they will never buy the drink in the future.

In late December, Coca-Cola Co alerted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it had detected low levels of carbendazim in its own juice, as well as in samples taken from a competitor's orange juice and juice concentrate imported from Brazil.

In addition, Coca-Cola China said in a statement on its website on Jan 12 that Orange juice containing extremely small amount of the fungicide will not cause health hazards.

However, Professor John W.S. Ho from the Department of Biochemistry under the Chinese University of Hong Kong challenged the interpretation. He pointed out that the carbendazim, like other pesticides, has the greatest impact on brain and it can cause partial paralysis.

In China, this kind of orange juice Minute Maid produced by Coca-Cola is still on sale in supermarkets and stores.

Some of consumers, who bought Minute Maid said they never heard this news, some adopted an indifferent attitude and only a few of the consumers said they will never buy the drink in the future.

In late December, Coca-Cola Co alerted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it had detected low levels of carbendazim in its own juice, as well as in samples taken from a competitor's orange juice and juice concentrate imported from Brazil.

In addition, Coca-Cola China said in a statement on its website on Jan 12 that Orange juice containing extremely small amount of the fungicide will not cause health hazards.

However, Professor John W.S. Ho from the Department of Biochemistry under the Chinese University of Hong Kong challenged the interpretation. He pointed out that the carbendazim, like other pesticides, has the greatest impact on brain and it can cause partial paralysis.

In China, this kind of orange juice Minute Maid produced by Coca-Cola is still on sale in supermarkets and stores.

Some of consumers, who bought Minute Maid said they never heard this news, some adopted an indifferent attitude and only a few of the consumers said they will never buy the drink in the future.

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U.S. won't allow more fungicide in orange juice: FDA

Posted by Flora Sawita Labels: , , , , ,

(Reuters) - The U.S. health regulator on Thursday declined a request by orange juice producers to allow a higher tolerance of a banned fungicide in juice imports, a decision that will force Brazil to stop exporting concentrated orange juice to the United States.

Brazil, the world's top orange juice producer, will still be able to ship its U.S. customers orange juice that is not from concentrate, since that variety contains much smaller levels of carbendazim.

Brazil asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to give it until June 2013 to eradicate carbendazim from its juice after the regulator began checking all imports in January for the chemical which it banned in 2009.

Carbendazim is illegal on citrus in the United States, but commonly used in Brazil, the world's top orange juice exporter, to combat mold on orange trees. It is permitted up to a limit in imports to the European Union, the main buyer of Brazil's juice.

The checks began after Coca Cola alerted the FDA when it discovered the chemical in laboratory tests.

Orange juice futures have been on a rollercoaster ride since the FDA began testing orange juice imports amid uncertainty over whether the United States would cut off supplies from Brazil, which provides about a tenth of U.S. orange juice.

The futures, traded at New York's ICE exchange, hit an all-time high on January 23 of $2.244 a lb but the benchmark March contract had retreated to $1.8505 per lb by Thursday.

Brazil's juice industry has continued exports to the United States since, but only in diluted not-from-concentrate form which meets FDA requirements for carbendazim content below 10 parts per billion (ppb), a virtually undetectable quantity.

"By the end of the year it is probable that things will be back to normal and we will be shipping concentrated juice to (the U.S.) again," an orange juice industry source told Reuters, declining to be named as he was not authorized to speak on the industry's behalf.

Brazil had requested the FDA distinguish between frozen concentrate and not-from-concentrate, meaning a 60 ppb carbendazim tolerance for the former since not-from-concentrate is diluted to about six times the volume of concentrate.

The FDA refused, saying its policy is to apply the 10 ppb limit on juice regardless of its concentration.

U.S. JUICE INDUSTRY TO BUY ELSEWHERE

The Juice Products Association of U.S.-based juice producers said in a statement it was "disappointed" by the FDA decision, since the Environmental Protection Agency declared carbendazim levels of up to 80 ppb posed no threat to human health.

It said it would have to seek supplies of juice from other producing countries.

"The United States cannot grow enough oranges to satisfy American consumer demand for orange juice and therefore juice processors must rely on orange juice concentrate from other countries to assure adequate supplies," it said.

The association had backed Brazil's call for imports of concentrate to be tested in the diluted form in which it is consumed.

In a 1,600 word statement, the FDA said it could not accept the requests Brazil's juice industry presented to it in writing on January 19, citing laws that it said prohibited it from making exceptions that would accommodate it.

"We recognize that the use in Brazil of a pesticide not authorized in the U.S. and FDA's detention of shipments bearing illegal residues has affected the orange juice market and has economic impacts," the response read.

"However these impacts do not warrant a change in FDA's enforcement ...," it concluded, adding that making an exception would create an unfair advantage over other food producers who have incurred costs to ensure their products meet FDA standards.

The FDA statement can be viewed at: here

About two-thirds of Brazil's juice shipments to the United States are already in not-from-concentrate, ready-to-drink form.

The Brazilian industry source said exporters would have to review supply contracts for concentrated juice with U.S.-based importers to switch to a not-from-concentrate product which is more expensive and bulkier to ship.

The European Union, where more than two thirds of Brazil's orange juice is shipped, applies a carbendazim tolerance of 200 ppb.


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Reduced pesticide residues found in European food – EFSA

Posted by Flora Sawita Labels: , ,


The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has said that fewer illegal pesticide residues were found in foods in 2009 compared to 2006 in a report published yesterday.

The Authority’s 2009 European Union Report on Pesticide Residues in Food found that the number of foods exceeding legal maximum residues (MRLs) for pesticides was down from 4.4% in 2006 to 1.4% in 2009.

EFSA used 67,000 samples of nearly 300 different types of food in 27 EU member states and in Iceland and Norway to determine the prevalence of foods exceeding MRLs in 2009.

Reduced levels

The report said that the reduction in the number of illegal pesticides residues was partially due to changes in EU legislation in 2008.

“The harmonisation has simplified the MRL system in Europe and therefore improved the clarity about which MRLs are applicable,” the report said.

It added that the changes in pesticide authorisation status and use patterns, the improvement in the data reporting system and the efficient implementation of the general provisions of the European food law may also have led to reduced levels for 2009.

Foods exceeding MRLs and health concerns

The highest percentages of foods exceeding MRLs were fruit and vegetables, such as table grapes (2.8%), peppers (1.8%) and aubergines. Wheat also showed illegal residues of 0.8%.

Overall, the number of pesiticides found in fruit, nuts and vegatables exceeded numbers found in cereal.

The most frequent residues found were HCH alpha and dimethoate.

Although EFSA has said that the vast majority of the 138 pesiticides tested do not raise health concerns for consumers, there are around a dozen which cannot be excluded from presenting a risk to consumers. This includes the commonly found pesticide dimethoate.

The report found that pesticide residues found in peppers could potentially be the most harmful to consumers.

Continue reading here: Food Production Daily 

0 comments

Reduced pesticide residues found in European food – EFSA

Posted by Flora Sawita Labels: , ,


The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has said that fewer illegal pesticide residues were found in foods in 2009 compared to 2006 in a report published yesterday.

The Authority’s 2009 European Union Report on Pesticide Residues in Food found that the number of foods exceeding legal maximum residues (MRLs) for pesticides was down from 4.4% in 2006 to 1.4% in 2009.

EFSA used 67,000 samples of nearly 300 different types of food in 27 EU member states and in Iceland and Norway to determine the prevalence of foods exceeding MRLs in 2009.

Reduced levels

The report said that the reduction in the number of illegal pesticides residues was partially due to changes in EU legislation in 2008.

“The harmonisation has simplified the MRL system in Europe and therefore improved the clarity about which MRLs are applicable,” the report said.

It added that the changes in pesticide authorisation status and use patterns, the improvement in the data reporting system and the efficient implementation of the general provisions of the European food law may also have led to reduced levels for 2009.

Foods exceeding MRLs and health concerns

The highest percentages of foods exceeding MRLs were fruit and vegetables, such as table grapes (2.8%), peppers (1.8%) and aubergines. Wheat also showed illegal residues of 0.8%.

Overall, the number of pesiticides found in fruit, nuts and vegatables exceeded numbers found in cereal.

The most frequent residues found were HCH alpha and dimethoate.

Although EFSA has said that the vast majority of the 138 pesiticides tested do not raise health concerns for consumers, there are around a dozen which cannot be excluded from presenting a risk to consumers. This includes the commonly found pesticide dimethoate.

The report found that pesticide residues found in peppers could potentially be the most harmful to consumers.

Continue reading here: Food Production Daily 

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