Industrial croissants: 60 million consumers alert on the presence of pesticide residues

Delphine Schiltz, edited by Yanis Darras 07h40, March 23, 2023

Are our croissants in supermarkets dangerous for our health? This is the question asked by the magazine 60 Million consumers, which analyzed the industrial croissants sold in bakeries and hypermarkets, and which represent 80% of those we eat. To do this, 13 croissants were selected, all from bakery chains or the pastry area in supermarkets.

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Pesticide residues

The result: in almost all famous pastries, 60 million consumers found Piperonyl butoxide. "It's a substance that farmers have used to boost, if you will, pesticide activity" on their farms, says Patricia Chairopoulos, who conducted the survey.

And the facts are there: of the 13 croissants studied, from supermarkets or bakery chains, half contain pesticide residues. Some crescents even accumulate three different ones, in very small quantities, and within the authorized limits. But the exhibition starts at breakfast.

Cocktail effects?

"What is annoying is to already find traces of pesticides in a delicacy product. And above all, we find it there, but unfortunately it is found in many other industrial products. And there can be accumulation if you are exposed to a multitude of pesticide residues. And (the problem) is that we do not know precisely the cocktail effects, "continues the journalist.

So, for lovers of croissants, it is advisable to favor homemade croissants at the baker's once in a while, for pleasure.