Those who use pesticides should be exposed! Who are the ones feeding poison to the public?

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Lerato Khumalo

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has started to expose the producers and sellers of imitation-adultified foods on the internet since the beginning of the month. According to the data published by the Ministry to date, 616 food companies have been determined to be non-compliant. The foods on display include products frequently used in kitchens such as meat, olive oil, tomato paste and spices. The work of the Ministry of Agriculture, which received support from citizens, also brought to mind the pesticide substance used above the limits in agricultural production. While a signature campaign was launched to expose the producers who use pesticides above the limits in agricultural products; Agriculturalists and food safety experts, who made evaluations to Haber Global Web Özel, explained how the disclosure process regarding pesticides could be.

Pesticide use causes many health problems.

MUST BE CHECKED

Dr. from the Chamber of Agricultural Engineers. Cemal Polat stated that there is currently no control system regarding pesticides and said, “In order for pesticide limits to be declared, farmers must be inspected. There is currently no such control in the Farmer Registration System. Products go to laboratories and always come back. Previously, there was Agricultural Consultancy Services here as a control. Once this was removed unfortunately there was no control left. There is no laboratory for control. In order to solve this on a farmer basis, pharmaceutical dealers also need to be inspected, what do they use according to the Farmer Registration System records; needs to be looked at. “The bags used should also be recycled,” he said.

DATES SHOULD BE CHECKED OUT

Adana Chamber of Agricultural Engineers President Ahencan Tayakısı also drew attention to the harvest and use dates of the products and made the following statements: “If the period between the last harvest date of agricultural products and use is taken into consideration, the probability of pesticide residues being released is very low. Since the Ministry of Agriculture prohibits the use and sale of some drugs, the existing drugs are It is not possible to release pesticides this way. If you pay attention to the date between harvest date and expiration date, there will be no problem here.. Systemic pesticides are generally not used in vegetable farming. Contact effective drugs are used. Among systemic drugs, new generation drugs that are not permanent are preferred. “It can be prevented with these medications.”

IT DOES NOT GO WITH COOKING

Food Safety Expert Prof. Dr. Özer Ergün made the following statements about what exposure to pesticides will cause in the short and medium term: “Microbiological hazards have always been important for food safety. However, they could be eliminated by cooking and freezing. When chemical residues such as agricultural protection chemicals enter food, they are not lost by cooking or freezing. Pesticides are used very widely. In fact, they have times, waiting periods and doses. It causes poisoning when exposed to too much. High doses kill. However, taking it in low doses is noteworthy here. “This situation causes many diseases in the long run.”

Those who use pesticides should be exposed! Who are the ones feeding poison to the public? - Picture: 2
Along with consumers, farmers are also exposed to the harmful effects of pesticides.

CAUSE OF DISEASES

On the other hand, “Facts and Figures About Poisons Used in Agriculture: Pesticide Atlas”, published by the Heinrich Böll Stiftung Association and updated every year, informs about the danger on the tables. “Pesticides” in the Atlas; In other words, it contains detailed information about the negative effects of agricultural poisons on human health and the environment. Accordingly Every year, 385 million people in the world become ill due to pesticide poisoning. Health problems such as cancer, Alzheimer’s developmental disorder, and infertility are caused by pesticides. While it is stated that farmers are at high risk due to their direct exposure to pesticides for a long time, it is stated that 200 thousand people in the world die annually due to acute poisoning.

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