Swiss consumer magazine K-Tipp analyzed 16 onions for pesticides. All but one of the bulbs revealed the presence of ready-to-eat chemical residues, within the pulp. All we can do is cry, #SaveTheBees and all of us.
Onions with pesticides, K-Tipp’s test.
K-Tipp examined 16 bulbs-white, yellow and red onions, spring onions and shallots-purchased from Swiss supermarkets. Origins Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain.
The sample was subjected to multiresidual analysis, in a German laboratory, for the presence of residues of more than 500 pesticides and other agrotoxics.
The result
Analyses were always conducted on the ‘peeled’ bulb, that is, stripped of the outer tunics. With the exception of spring onions, the consumption of which does not postulate peeling.
All bulbs revealed chemical contamination. Except for ‘sweet onions’ of French origin, sold by Globus, which are completely residue-free. The worst in the test is the French shallot ‘Prince de Bretagne‘, sold by Lidl.
Cocktail effect
In all cases the contamination is within ‘legal’ limits. However, up to 3 different chemicals were detected in almost a third of the bulbs (5 out of 16 samples).
The co-presence of several agrotoxics in a food is not yet regulated or subject to toxicological evaluation by health institutions. Although the dangers of the so-called cocktail effect have been established in a recent scientific study, as seen above.
Onions, various pesticides
The ‘conventional’ (non-organic) cultivation of onions contemplates the use of various chemicals including herbicides, fertilizers and sprout inhibitors. Two are those found most frequently in the Swiss test:
– phosphonic acid. Carried by fertilizers, this substance is toxic to birds, mammals and aquatic organisms. Only from July 2022 can it no longer be added to fertilizers in the EU. The only organic onion sampled tested positive for phosphonic acid. K-Tipp does not identify the cause, which may lie in the presence of phosphonate in copper and algae products, (1)
– maleic hydrazide. Employed as a germination inhibitor on onions, garlic, potatoes and tobacco, the molecule was found in a quarter of the sample. It is toxic to aquatic organisms with long-lasting effects. In 2017, the European Commission renewed its authorization until 2032. (2)
Italian spring onions with fungicides
In addition to phosphonic acid, traces of two fungicides, Boscalid and Penthiopyrad, were found in Italian spring onions sold by Migros.
Both substances are very toxic to aquatic organisms and can pollute water in the long term. In addition, Boscalid is an endocrine disruptor, which damages the thyroid gland and fetal health. The authorization for its use in the EU, extended by one year, expires next July 2021. (3)
All we can do is cry, #SaveTheBees.
We can only weep at the idea that even onions, one of the poorest foods in literary tradition, are grown with substances that poison water and ecosystems. (4)
The European citizens’ initiative #SaveTheBees is perhaps really the only hope of salvation for the Old Continent.
Italy has so far collected only 20 of the 54,000 signatures required for the European Commission to seriously consider freeing our agriculture from the domination of the
Big 4
, the global monopolists of pesticides and seeds.
Let’s all sign and collect signatures at this link.
Marta Strinati and Dario Dongo
Notes
1) V. https://www. infowine.com/it/novita/crea_perche_residui_dellacido_fosfonico_nel_vino_biologicowhy_sc_18437.htm
2) V. https://www. trovanorme.salute.gov.it/norme/renderFitoPdf?codleg=63726&anno=2018&parte=1
3) V. Reg. EU 2020/869 Amending reg. EU 540/2011 regarding extension of approval periods for the active substances beflubutamid, benalaxyl, benthiavalicarb, bifenazate, boscalid, bromoxynil, captan, cyazofamid, dimethomorph, ethephon, etoxazole, famoxadone, fenamiphos, flumioxazine, fluoxastrobin, folpet, formetanate, metribuzin, milbemectin, Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251, phenmedipham, phosmet, pirimiphos-methyl, propamocarb, prothioconazole, and s-metholachlor https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/IT/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32020R0869&from=ES
(4) Dario Dongo. ISPRA, 2020 report on pesticides in water. GIFT(Great Italian Food Trade). 12/24/20, https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/sicurezza/ispra-rapporto-2020-sui-pesticidi-nelle-acque
Professional journalist since January 1995, he has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic surveys on food, she has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
