Monitoring carried out by the independent Pesticide Residues Committee has confirmed that fresh produce supplied to schoolchildren as part of the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme is  consistently safe to eat, reinforcing the pivotal role the scheme plays in encouraging healthy eating habits in young children.

Results from the latest testing programme for the Autumn term 2008 indicated that all samples either contained no detectable residues or residues below the Maximum Residue Level.

Many UK fresh produce businesses are involved in the successful School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme, which has contributed to a successful increase in consumption:  a September 2007 report found that five-a-day consumption among school children had risen from 32% in 2004 to 44% in 2006.

“With rising obesity levels and poor diet among children an ambitious programme is needed to tackle this public health issue. FPC has lobbied the UK Government to take advantage of an EU-wide scheme to allow more schoolchildren to enjoy fresh produce.  We recently welcomed the announcement that the Scottish Government is taking up additional funding on offer from the EU, and we will continue to press the UK Government to think again and to seize this opportunity to expand the success of the current School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme,” commented Nigel Jenney, Chief Executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium.

“There are stringent standards in place to ensure that the UK consumer can enjoy healthy good quality fresh produce including a rigorous testing and regulatory process for the use of pesticides.  FPC’s Code of Practice for the Control of Pesticides is recognised by the Schools Fruit and Vegetable Scheme and throughout the industry as a well established practical guide on managing pesticide use and residues. We believe that it is important for everyone within the fresh produce industry to ensure that they maintain high standards and follow good practice to reassure consumers that every care is taken by both UK and overseas growers,” added Nigel Jenney.

The presence of a residue does not mean that produce is not safe to eat. Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) are not safety limits but are based on good agricultural practice and are usually well below the levels that would be a concern for people’s health.

In a survey  by the Food Standards Agency UK consumers indicated that they are more concerned about rising food prices than about pesticides in food.  In fact, concerns about pesticides have decreased over time and are now at their lowest level since tracking began in 2001.

To read the PRC’s School Fruit and Veg Scheme Autumn 2008 testing programme report, click here