On February 20th, a French association, Générations futures (Future Generations) launched a report analysing pesticide residues over 19 fruits and 33 vegetables (data collected between 2012 and 2016) in France.
This report, available here in French, raises concern over food security - in terms of the quality of what we actually put in our plates. Collected data show the evolution year after year and ranks fruits and veggies based on their values against maximum limits of residues. It also highlights the increase in "multiresidues", i.e. the mulitiplication of identified pesticides in certain food items which can over a long term lead to a"coktail effect", i.e. when residues have an impact on each other (whether accumulative or transformative).
The purpose of the study is to alarm authorities and consumers about the situation - it does not point however at responsible stakeholders nor provide regulatory, technical or chemical solutions to prevent the situation or reduce the risks. It is a powerful tool as a consumer to improve one's choices (this is especially relevant for people "at risks" for instance pregnant women).
Personally, I have focused on seasons and geographical factors mainly, but I have never really considered pesticides as a decision factor. I do not especially buy organic/green-labelled food, probably because I trust local Swiss agriculture (while, on the other hand, I have always avoided food coming from China or the US after the pat years' food scandals), but obviously, and despite European regulations in place, you just never know.
I strongly encourage fellow French-speaking readers to have a look and share their comments here:
will this report help you change your routines as consumers?
Pics/ Générations futures