Biochemical method can only test 18% of pesticides, food safety hard to guarantee; civic groups: develop new technology, manage from the source
According to the latest statistics from upstream and downstream, the pesticide rapid screening biochemical method widely used nationwide for checking fruits and vegetables can only test 18% of pesticides. How to safeguard food safety? Civic groups concerned about food safety, including the Homemakers United Foundation, the Consumers' Foundation, the Meal Box Association, and parent associations, have also put forward various views and suggestions on this.
Homemakers United Foundation: "Batch-by-batch testing" easily misleads the public; rational pesticide use is the solution
The Homemakers United Environmental Protection Foundation issued a statement: the purpose of pesticide testing is to see where the problems lie, so as to effectively improve farmers' pesticide application methods. The fundamental solution to the pesticide residue problem is still to teach farmers rational pesticide use. It called on the government to genuinely achieve the policy of halving pesticide use within 10 years, and to guide farmers toward friendly farming.
Zhang Yuling, director of the Homemakers United Environmental Protection Foundation, said that every testing method has pros and cons. "The key is whether everyone is made aware of what pesticides can be tested, so that people don't misunderstand it as comprehensive testing." Supermarkets or stores often advertise "batch-by-batch testing," and ordinary people mistakenly think that means everything has been tested, not knowing that the biochemical method can only test two types of insecticides.
"If the biochemical method is not used, then what testing method will the government actually propose, one that safeguards food safety on one hand while also protecting farmers' livelihoods on the other?" Zhang Yuling believes that the pesticides tested by the biochemical method are those with relatively strong acute toxicity, and it still has value for certain high-risk crops, but she still hopes relevant agencies can develop new rapid screening methods as soon as possible, which can both ensure consumer safety and reduce farmers' losses.
