Pesticides in Fruits: Eating these winter vegetables can cause cancer, this country has issued a warning.:

News Topical, Digital Desk : Multiple Pesticides In Produce: Common fruits and vegetables sold in Britain have been found to contain pesticides that have been linked to serious diseases like cancer. This has raised major concerns about public health. Last year, the government tested 3,482 food samples, with grapes being the most suspicious. Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN UK) analyzed these samples and found a total of 123 different chemicals in 17 types of fruits and vegetables. Of these, 42 were pesticides that have been linked to cancer, and 21 were chemicals that can affect the body's hormonal system.

A sample of Sultana grapes from Turkey was found to contain 16 different pesticides, including PFAs, or those forever chemicals. These chemicals do not break down in the environment for centuries and can accumulate in the body, causing significant health damage. A total of 108 grape samples tested revealed that 90 percent contained more than one pesticide.
A similar trend was observed with grapefruit, with 99 percent of the 121 samples found to contain multiple pesticides. Up to 10 different chemicals were found in a 1-kilogram grapefruit sample.

Chemicals were also found in these

Of the 24 lime samples, 79 percent tested positive for multiple pesticides. Bananas, bell peppers, melons, and chilies also tested positive for high levels of chemicals. One chili sample tested positive for 11 pesticides, and one broccoli sample tested positive for eight. According to the government's environmental committee, 46.67 percent of samples tested in 2024 tested positive for pesticide residue. Most of these were within legal limits, but 2.07 percent exceeded the limit. However, the committee notes that exceeding the limit is not necessarily immediately dangerous.

How are MRLs determined?

PAN UK argues that the MRL is determined for just one chemical, whereas the reality is that many chemicals are present in our food simultaneously. They say that we do not know what effect so many chemicals have on the body when they combine. Sometimes their combined effect can be even more toxic; this is called the 'cocktail effect'. PAN UK revealed another shocking fact, 29 percent of the pesticides found in the investigation were such that they are not allowed for use in Britain. But these chemicals reach the UK market through fruits and vegetables imported from outside.