Up to 16 different pesticides ‘pollute’ tea and herbal teas, as well as traces of insects, plastic and rodent hair. This is the result of the test conducted by 60 millions de consommateurs magazine on 48 products on supermarket shelves. (1)
Experts from the French Consumer Monthly have once again-some 5 years after a previous survey on the subject (1)-selected different brands of black tea, mint green tea, and two herbal teas, one verbena, the other detox.
Alongside the French distributors’ brands, the sample includes the best-known industrial brands also available in Italy: Auchan, Twinings, Lipton, Clipper, Lidl’s Lord Nelson (see table at foot of page).
Pesticides banned in Europe
The search for pesticides (770 molecules) traced in 8 tea samples 3 neonecotinoids, 3 other insecticides and a fungicide banned in Europe.
The worst result is mint green teas. Five out of 12 products contain residues above the maximum allowable threshold.
The worst is Intermarché’s Cotterley green tea, which contains residues of 4 unauthorized pesticides, two neonecotinoids (acetamiprid and thiacloprid) and two other insecticides chlorfenapyr and bifenthrin). This is followed by E. Leclerc’s Britley product (3 residues) and Twinings (2 residues).
A pesticide banned in Europe is found in black teas in 3 products-Auchan, U and Twinings.
The same occurs in Lipton’s detox herbal tea. Except for this negative exception, herbal teas appear more ‘clean,’ perhaps because they are harvested in natural settings. Those selected came from France and Morocco.
Only organic teas do not contain any pesticide residues.
Glyphosate in 30% of the sample
Analyses also found the presence of residues of agrotoxics authorized in the EU for a couple more years. Glyphosate, the most widely used herbicide, has its use permit expiring at the end of 2022. Instead, its toxicity to consumers has been underestimated to date by institutions. On the contrary, toxicity to agricultural workers is now established, as stated by the UN (2017) and lawsuits in the U.S. that have led to multimillion-dollar settlements of cancer-stricken workers.
Glyphosate was traced in 30 percent of the products tested. First in contamination are black teas, 11 out of 16. It is also found in Lipton green tea and in 5 verbena-based infusions: Elephant, Carrefour, Tisea, Casino organic, and Lidl’s Lord Nelson. The latter also contains problematic molecules, such as the irritant and laxative anthraquinone. Companies surveyed by 60 million consummateurs said their suppliers do not use anthraquinone pesticides. Its presence could result, they say, from the drying phase of the leaves, which promotes its natural formation.
Foreign bodies
Another unpleasant element is the presence of foreign bodies. It gives little pleasure to know about the presence of plastic or stone fragments, whole or partial insects, and rodent hair. And yet, repulsion aside, these are ‘pollutants’ that are harmless to humans.
Almost all of the impurities are biological in nature, with the organic references most affected by the presence of whole or parts of insects. Less affected are the black teas, much more the infusions, where rodent hair has also been found. The prominence of organic products among the samples with organic traces is related to the non-use of agrotoxics, as well as the wild environment of herb harvesting.
Less pleasant is the presence of rock and plastic fragments, especially in verbena infusions. As for the plastic, it is speculated that the fragments found came from herb transport bags.
Heavy metals
The search for heavy metals was positively resolved. Arsenic, cadmium and lead are present only in trace amounts, with almost no health risks.
The presence of heavy metals is regulated only for tea, not for infusions. And in the sample, only one product-Nutrisanté’s detox herbal tea-contains detectable amounts of mercury, although below the threshold limit.
Carcinogenic alkaloids
More important is the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), molecules that plants develop to defend themselves against herbivores. In fact, some of these substances are recognized as long-term carcinogens.
For some of these alkaloids, more restrictive limits go into effect from July 2022: 150 micrograms per kg. This is how Regulation (EU) 2020/2040 stipulates, but it introduces a transitional period until 31.12.23.
This (new) limit is exceeded by two products: green tea La Vie Claire (3,900 micrograms per kg) and-at a great distance-Auchan black tea (200 micrograms per kg).
About half of the other black teas are affected by the presence of these alkaloids, with amounts ranging from 5.6 to 100 micrograms per kg (for Lipton’s Rich Earl Grey).
Polyphenols, a sign of quality
Polyphenols are found mainly in fresh tea, namely green tea. They are highly valued for their antioxidant properties, which are also useful in the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease, as well as for the immune system.
In the sample, polyphenols are most present in Clipper and Terra Etica teas (455 mg polyphenols per cup). In contrast, Pagès, Carrefour Bio, Lord Nelson, and Twinings contain less than 300 mg/cup.
The best and worst of the test
The best and worst in the test are summarized here citing only those products that are easily available even in Italy.
Marta Strinati
Notes
(1) Patricia Chairopoulo. Trop de pesticides dans les sachets de thé et de tisane! 60 million de consommateurs, 24.2.22. https://www.60millions-mag.com/2022/02/24/trop-de-pesticides-dans-les-sachets-de-et-de-tisanes-19757
(2) Marta Strinati. Pesticide tea. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 11/17/17, https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/salute/tè-ai-pesticidi
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".
