Mandarins from Morocco, lime from Brazil and oranges from Spain are some of the fruits that have been found to have traces of the pesticide chlorpyrifos. It is a nerve poison and the most common insecticide used in agriculture.
In total, the National Food Agency has conducted 158 tests on citrus fruits this year, 22 percent bar traces of the substance. No test showed at levels above the current limit value. But it can still be risky because new studies show that it is not possible to establish any safe limit values for humans.
- We think this is a problematic topic. Precisely because it affects the nervous system and the development of the brain. So we would rather see that Swedish consumers are not exposed to it, says Anneli Widenfalk, toxicologist at the National Food Agency.
"A substance that should not be used"Researchers at the Karolinska Institute recently reviewed chlorpyrifos. According to their review, even at very low doses, the substance is more risky for people than previously thought.
- We believe that negative effects can occur in the low concentrations that the population is exposed to. It is a topic that should not be used, says Axel Mie, research assistant at the Karolinska Institute.
The European Commission now wants chlorpyrifos to be banned from use within the EU, and at the end of the week the proposal will be voted on by EU member states.
The substance is on the shellChlorpyrifos has a higher limit value on citrus fruits than other fruits and vegetables, precisely because a large part of the substance is on the shell. At the National Food Agency, they do not think that consumers need to worry if they have eaten a lot of citrus fruits.
- I understand that you can feel worried, but personally I am not. In this type of study, there are many uncertainties regarding effects and exposure. But since these uncertainties exist, it is better if use ceases now, says Anneli Widenfalk at the National Food Agency.