Food Safety Study Hides the State of NZ Food

Food Safety Study Hides the State of NZ Food. Independent Study shows Most Foods Contain Pesticide Residues

An independent analysis of the Government’s latest Total Diet Survey confirms the NZFSA report fails New Zealand children.

Studies of the report, to be published in the July issue of Soil and Health Association’s magazine Organic NZ, shows about 2/3 of the 63 foods tested by NZFSA contained residues, and in some foods all tested brands were contaminated. Yet the spin put on Food Safety’s results was appears calculated to give the public a sense New Zealand food was 99% residue free, says.Soil and Health co-chair Steffan Browning

Mr Browning says the independent study reveals the New Zealand Food Safety Authority failed to alert the public to 14 different pesticide residues found in raisins and sultanas, two brands containing 9 residues each. Raisins are a common children’s snack food and a staple of school lunch boxes, Mr Browning says.

The Organic NZ reports also say the Food Safety Authority relied on guesstimates of safe residue limits, and overlooks the presence of complex mixtures of residues, many of which are known to amplify each other’s effects, including endocrine disruptors and carcinogens.

According to the Organic NZ studies 19 foods had multiple residues, ranging from 3 in some wheatbix brands through to 11 in mueslis, and 14 in the raisin/sultana samples.

The report says furthermore the majority of the foods were not wholly of New Zealand origin and little fresh produce was tested, so the NZFSA is wrong to use it to promote the idea NZ production is squeaky clean.

Organic NZ has requested the release of the brands of tested foods under the Official Information Act so that consumers can make their own choice. Mr Browning says it will be interesting to see if the only raisin/sultana brand with just one residue was organic.

Mr Browning says Soil and Health has begun it’s own tests of New Zealand produce and results will be reported in subsequent issues.

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