| January 20, 2005,
source: New Zealand Herald: New Zealand fruit
and vegetable growers are using to four pesticides currently
banned in the United States, according to a report in
the January 13, New Zealand Herald. Three of the pesticides,
diazinon, dimethoate and methamidophos, are completely
banned by the U.S. while, the forth, organophosphate,
chlorpyrifos, was banned for home and garden use.
The chemicals are used on sweet corn, maize, onions,
potatoes, kiwi fruit and apple trees. The Vegetable
and Fruitgrowers Federation maintains all usage is below
safety levels set by the Food Safety Authority but Safe
Food Campaign coordinator Alison White was quoted by
the Herald as saying “Because of the organophosphate
residues found in New Zealand in a range of fruit and
vegetables, I would strongly counsel pregnant women
and young children to have organic food. New Zealand
ought to catch up with the restrictions that have been
put in place by other countries, especially America."
For the complete story: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10006400
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