Prohibited pesticides in paprika powder from Austrian supermarkets detected

The Greenpeace Marketcheck has examined the range of paprika powder in the Austrian supermarkets and had 13 samples examined for pesticides. The result is terrifying: the 13 paprika powder tested are loaded with 37 different sprays. Pesticide cocktails with 10 to 19 different fields were found in all conventional samples. The limit values ​​were exceeded in two samples. Particularly alarming: In the case of twelve of the proven pesticides, use in the EU is prohibited because they are harmful to health or environmentally. Greenpeace calls for Minister of Agriculture Totchnig and Minister of Health Schumann to work for stricter protection standards in the EU: Pesticides banned in the EU should no longer be allowed in food regardless of the country of origin.

Sebastian Theissing-Matei, agricultural expert at Greenpeace: “The enormous burden of all conventional paprika powder tested with true pesticide cocktails has also surprised us. The spices contain field ergifes that are roughly cancer or can damage the nervous system. But also those that are extremely poisonous for bees, bumblebees or fishing. Paprika powder is one of the popular spices in Austria Appetite. “

All conventional products contained a pesticide cocktail of 10 to 19 active ingredients-including thiamethoxam, clothianidine and chlorine pyrifos, which are connected to nerve damage, hormone disorders or damage to fertility. The use of twelve of the fields found is even prohibited in the EU. Particularly alarming: The applicable limit values ​​were exceeded in two samples. The paprika powder “Las Hermanas Sharp” was stronger 13 times with the carcinogenic pesticide “Anthrachinon”. The paprika powder “Kotányi Paprika Scharf” contained almost twice as much of the Pesticide Chlorfenapyr. Organic products performed significantly better because they are only slightly loaded. Chlorate was found in almost all conventional and biological samples. It is prohibited as a pesticide in the EU, but may be used as a disinfectant and in drinking water treatment and could have come into the paprika powder in this way.

The main growing countries for peppers are Spain, Hungary, but also distant countries such as Peru or China. According to the supermarkets, the majority of the products examined comes from Spain. Greenpeace, by Agriculture Minister Norbert Tettschnig and Minister of Health Korinna Schumann, demands that pesticides be banned in food on the European market at the European level for stricter laws and stricter controls, regardless of where these have been grown. In addition, both Austrian politics and the Austrian supermarket chains have to strengthen their efforts to expand biological agriculture and for a larger organic offer. The current test once again underlines the significantly better environmental balance of biologically produced food.

All results in detail can be found here: https://act.gp/Laborergebnisse-Paprikapulver

The summary website articles can be found here:
https://greenpeace.at/marktcheck/paprikapulver-mai25/

Image material and audio-o-tones, further information and the entire laboratory results can be found here: https://act.gp/Paprikapulver

With the credits © Mitja Kobal / Greenpeace, the photos are available free of charge for editorial use.