EU baby foods free from pesticides
infant and baby processed food have come into force, reports
Ananova.com.
New European rules that effectively ban pesticide residues from infant and baby processed food have come into force, reports Ananova.com.
A blanket limit means only traces of individual pesticides will be allowed in instant formula or baby food products.
Friends of the Earth have welcomed the introduction of the EU directive but called for the ban to be extended to fresh fruit and vegetables.
Sandra Bell, the charity's pesticides campaigner, said: "This new law recognises that young people need special protection from pesticide residues.
"But babies and infants will still be exposed to pesticides when they eat fruit and vegetables, which are regularly found to contain traces of these chemicals.
"The [UK] government must acknowledge the problem, extend this protection to fresh food, and help farmers find safer ways of protecting their crops."
The UK Food Standards Agency, heavily criticised this week by consumer organisations for its position on GM food labelling that does not, organisations claim, go far enough, says that it wants to see pesticide residues on fruit and vegetables reduced to their lowest possible level.
A spokeswoman said: "If fruit and vegetables do contain any residues, consumers can be confident that they are only present at levels well below those that might be harmful to health."
