Fall 1993 (v5n5)
	Pesticides in children's food. Richard Wiles Environmental Working Group, Washington, DC. 1993 This report from the Washington-based Environmental Working Group (EWG) found widespread, generally low pesticide levels in food. Based on data from nearly 20,000 food samples tested between 1990 and 1992 by the Food and Drug Administration and private labs, the EWG reported that more than half of the food samples had detectable pesticide residues of at least one pesticide. Of the samples that had detectable residues, there were few violations of current tolerance limits. The EWG report noted that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assesses the health risks from pesticides as though people are exposed to them one at a time. Richard Wiles, the author of the report, noted that using an additive approach to risk assessment, just eight pesticides in 20 fruits and vegetables resulted in the average child exceeding the EPA lifetime one-in-a-million risk standard from pesticides in food by his or her first birthday. Risks of this magnitude are unacceptable according to Wiles. To address these issues, the EWG recommended phasing out pesticides that pose the greatest risks to children, applying strict health standards for all pesticides and developing alternative farming practices. Pesticides in Children's Food was released just prior to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children. The Clinton administration appears to agree with both the NAS and the EWG recommendations. On June 25, the EPA, United States Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration issued a joint statement saying that they expected to use the reports of the NAS and the EWG on children and pesticides "as a basis for formulating the legislative and regulatory policies needed to put the Administrative principles into effect." Although both reports show valid concerns with pesticides in children's food, their recommendations are quite distinct. Whereas the NAS report focuses on improving risk management techniques for pesticides in the food supply, the EWG prescribes reducing pesticide applications and eliminating known cancer-causing pesticides whenever practical alternatives exist. The EWG report also supports the development of alternative farming systems. It is still unclear how the administration will reconcile these differences and which kinds of policies will be supported. Pesticides in Children's Food is available for $15.00 plus $3.00 shipping and handling from the Environmental Working Group, 1718 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20009. (GWF.O1 3) Contributed by Gail Feenstra   [ Back | Search | Feedback ]