Celery has topped a new list of foods which contain pesticide residues. The 'dirty dozen' list by food and soil researchers used data from the Food Safety Authority.

Others on the list were peaches, apricots, butter and bread, in which researchers identified 23 pesticides and close behind the dirty dozen were cucumber, nectarines, lettuce, tomatoes, wine and pears.

Safe food campaigner Alison White prepared a list of commonly consumed foods with pesticide residue and claims, “Various long term effects associated with pesticides include endocrine or hormonal disruption, cancer, immune system suppression, nervous system damage, genetic damage and birth defects.”

The SMC asked experts on pesticide residue and toxicology to comment on the methodology of the research and the safety of pesticide residue in food.

Ian Shaw, Professor of Toxicology, Department of Chemistry, University of Canterbury comments, “what matters is the levels of the pesticides. In order to assess the risk to the consumer we need to assess the health impacts of the residues.”

Dr John Reeve, toxicologist at the New Zealand Food Safety Authority stated, “Our testing shows that celery contains residues because of the shape of the plant but the levels found do not pose any likely health risk.”

Peter Beaven, Chief Executive, Pipfruit New Zealand comments, “The Apple Futures programme has been entered in the innovation category competition as a new product at Fruit Logistica in Berlin next February. This is the world's largest fresh produce conference. In the 2009 season, more than 900 residue tests were conducted, and this year we will do more than 1000 tests.”