Andalusian interprofessional fruit and vegetable association Hortyfruta has this week secured a clarification from a Dutch television channel over claims that Spanish tomatoes contained high levels of pesticide residues.

In a statement, the Almería-based grower organisation said that following over two months of discussions the TV Netwerk channel had broadcast a video this morning (11 November) rectifying and denying the accusations about Spanish tomatoes.

During the original programme, the channel had aired accusations given by Dutch environmental lobbying group Milieudefensie that tomatoes sourced from Almería “contained high levels of pesticide residues”. It also claimed that Spanish tomatoes had been found to contain “3.2 times more 'poison' than Dutch tomatoes” and as such posed a risk to childrens’ health.

The clarification issued by the channel said that “the assertion made in the previous programme that Spanish tomatoes were unhealthy was far too hasty and lacked detail”.

Furthermore, the channel said the accusation was “based on an opinion given by Milieudefensie, which was found to have as its basis an error”.

Topics