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Pesticide risk in baby food debated
January 29, 1998
Web posted at: 3:25 p.m. EDT (1525 GMT)In this story:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Many foods regularly eaten by young children -- such as apples, peaches, popcorn and commercial baby food -- often contain trace amounts of a pesticide that exceed federal safety standards, an activist group claimed Thursday. Representatives of the food industry call the allegations irresponsible and deny the food is unsafe.
Every day, according to Richard Wiles of the Washington-based Environmental Working Group, more than 1 million children under age 6 eat an unsafe dose of organophosphates, a type of pesticide.
The group says organophosphates have the potential to cause subtle, long-term damage to the brain and nervous system.
EPA: Benefits outweigh potential risks
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it hasn't had a chance to study the report, but that it's reassessing the safety of organophosphates and has placed them at the top of a list to be reviewed under a new food safety law.
At the same time, the EPA stresses that parents should not stop giving their children fruits and vegetables, because the benefits far outweigh any risks.
Food safety defended
Jay Vroom, a spokesman for The American Crop Protection Association that represents the pesticide industry, says the allegations are not based on scientific data.
"They are politically motivated and they have the potential of unfortunately and unnecessarily scaring parents who have to make critical choices about what to feed our children," he said.
Baby food manufacturers say their products are safe Major baby food manufacturers also defended the safety of their products, saying they make sure infants are not exposed to unsafe levels of pesticides. The industry also says it has banned or severely restricted the use of organophosphates on crops used for baby food.
Still, sources say, the Clinton administration is likely to take a tough stance on these pesticides and will probably prohibit some uses in certain foods or in the home.
Correspondent Eugenia Halsey contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Clinton wants even more funding for food safety - December 28, 1997
- How safe are the pesticides on your produce? - November 27, 1997
- Contaminations raise the question: Is food safe? - August 20, 1997
Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
- Environmental Working Group - The Pesticides Page
- The Pesticide Trust
- Organophosphate - nerve agent
- FQPA Status of Implementation at the End of Fiscal Year 1997
- American Crop Protection Association
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
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