The majority of bagged salads are contaminated by dangerous pesticides, reveals the 60 Million Consumers association.
As the sunny days approach, it is tempting to eat healthier and lighter… for example by preparing beautiful mixed salads. The problem ? Pre-packaged salads are said to be full of pesticides. Decryption.
A real “cocktail” of pesticides
For this survey, 26 references of ready-to-use lamb’s lettuces and lettuces (13 classic lettuces and 13 lamb’s lettuces, conventional, organic or “without pesticide residue”) were analyzed. To do this, experts from 60 Million Consumers measured the residues of chlorine solution, used in factories to wash the product before packaging.
Result ? Of these 26 salads, only five are not contaminated: “two lettuces and three lamb’s lettuces“, says the magazine.
For the rest, an average of 3.8 pesticide residues per contaminated salad was noted… for an overall total of 28 different molecules. “A real cocktail!“, deplores the magazine.
Eight molecules suspected of being carcinogenic
A cocktail composed of eight molecules suspected of having at least one action “carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction” (CMR).
“In total, eleven lettuces contain one or more potentially CMR pesticide residues, only detected (less than 0.01 mg/kg in the laboratory) or even quantified in four references. Certainly, the quantities found are within the regulatory limits, even for the highest (0.18 mgkg of metaflumizone) of the trial. In other words, there is – theoretically – no health risk. But to date, scientists know almost nothing about the cocktail effects between all these molecules.“, underlines the association.
Interesting detail: certain salads claiming to be organic or “without pesticide residue” are in reality contaminated. This is the case of Lettuce Florette, containing a CMR pesticide, or Carrefour Bio lamb’s lettuce, containing a banned metabolite, resulting from the degradation of dichlobenil.
The only good news concerns the level of residues of chlorine solution, used to wash the product before packaging: no trace of chlorine comes close to the limit set by the authorities and this is even more true for organic products, organic Bonduelle lettuce. doesn’t even contain any at all.
NO to diets, YES to WW!
Salads: how to avoid these pesticides?
But then how can we get rid of pesticides in our salads? Rewashing the salad can be a good first step, even if not all the pesticides will go away. Some in fact remain on the surface of the vegetable and are therefore soluble in water, while others are absorbed by the plants.
The best thing is to opt for “washable” salad (and not in a bag) and not to eat salad every day.
Slide: 12 foods that are better to eat organic
