Mojito, caïpirinha and other cocktails with summer flavors are sure to beckon during the next few days in the sun. But beware! A report published today by Greenpeace Germany reveals that lime produced in Brazil and sold in the European Union contains residues of several pesticides. An accredited and certified laboratory analyzed more than 50 lemon samples purchased from supermarkets and wholesale markets in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden.
More than half of the pesticides detected are considered very dangerous because they pose a high risk to human health, animals or the environment. The study was carried out in anticipation of EU discussions next month on a free trade agreement with Mercosur countries. Once the trade deal is in place, it will eliminate tariffs on European pesticide exports to Mercosur countries and curb restrictions on imported food products, which could lead to a sharp increase in the use of pesticides and therefore their harmful effects.
Belgian models
All five Belgian samples tested showed traces of pesticides. Traces of imidacloprid were also found in one of them. It is a neonicotinoid banned in the European Union because it harms bees.
“So pesticides banned in our country are returning to our plates and endangering our health after causing environmental and social damage in the countries of the Global South”, Alban Aubry concludes. “This shows how flawed and unfair our food system is. We must move it towards a system that respects farmers, the environment and our health. Belgium must prioritize the right to sustainable and quality food for all and ensure that the European Union does not ratify the EU-Mercosur agreement.”.
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