Fruit and Vegetable Contamination Study Timely

A new study into how contaminants in water and fertilisers can end up in fresh fruit and vegetables has been welcomed by Labour’s food safety spokesman Dr Ashraf Choudhary.

The study, to be undertaken by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority, will look at how irrigation water and natural fertilisers – including manures, bio-solids and compost – are used by the horticultural industry.

While contaminated fruit and vegetable incidents are rare in New Zealand, many foodborne illnesses have been linked to fresh produce overseas.

Dr Choudhary said although a 2009 NZFSA study revealed pathogens in only two of 900 samples - and both were Salmonella-contaminated lettuces from the same grower – the pressure on New Zealand’s natural water supplies is certain to increase.

“On one hand, we are seeing increasing pressure on our available natural water as a number of irrigation projects get the green light, while on the other, contamination from dairy farm run-off is reaching the point where many lowland rivers are now deemed not suitable for swimming,” he says.

“And if they are deemed not suitable for swimming, then they are certainly not suitable for spray-irrigating horticultural crops on our fertile lowlands.”

“NZ may be entering a golden era of international demand for our food products, and while this growth will greatly assist our economic growth, these new consumers will want proof our food is safe and produced with high food safety, environmental and ethical standards.

“Which is why we need these benchmarks in the food production chain, so we can identify the at-risk areas in advance and eliminate these risks before any food contamination problems become apparent,” Dr Choudhary said.

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