Simple, practical and effective, this is how we could describe salads and lamb’s lettuce already washed and sold in bags. But are these ready-to-eat vegetables really free of pesticide residues? This is the question asked by the magazine 60 million consumers. In its issue 601 to be published on March 28, 2024, the magazine warns of the presence of pesticide residues on “the vast majority of salads tested”. We take stock.
Salads and lettuces in bags: only 5 products do not present pesticide residue
To carry out this study, 60 million consumers compared “two families of bagged salads among the best-selling, which are available in supermarkets”. In detail, there are 13 classic/iceberg lettuces and 13 lamb’s lettuces. The authors distinguished three categories: those sold as “conventional”, “organic” or noted “without pesticide residue”.
Researchers were interested in the presence of traces of pesticides in products. They also looked for the presence of used chlorine solution, the latter being used in factories to wash food. In addition, they analyzed the packaging. In total, 655 molecules and metabolites were searched.
Contaminated salad bags: on average: 3.8 pesticide residues are present
“Let’s say it straight away, our results are disappointing, even worrying for some of the bagged salads”, note the authors. In fact, of the 26 products tested, only five were free from contamination. More precisely, it is two lettuces and three lamb’s lettuce. As for contaminated salads and lamb’s lettuce, if the quantities of residues discovered “remain within regulatory limits”, the authors are concerned about the diversity noted.
In total, 60 million consumers noted the presence of 28 different molecules, including “8 are suspected of having carcinogenic and/or reprotoxic properties”. In total, “11 lettuces contain one or more pesticide residues potentially CMR (Carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic Editor’s note)”. As for contaminated products, an average of 3.8 molecules are detected. If the effects on health are not known, the magazine questions the potential impacts on health.
Local, organic, bulk: advice from 60 million consumers for choosing the right salads
But what can we do to limit the risks? For the user, it is advisable to wash the salad well, but this solution has certain limitations because “Even careful washing does not remove all pesticides.” Also, it is recommended, wherever possible and financial means, to turn to bulk, organic and local salads.
Additionally, the magazine 60 million consumers calls for a strengthening of product controls, both on the part of producers and health authorities. Finally, they emphasize the importance of “limit the use of phytosanitary products, particularly of the CMR type”.
Find the entire survey of 60 million consumers in issue 601 of the magazineto be released on March 28, 2024.
