The German Fruit Trade Association (DFHV) has insisted there has been no breach of statutory maximum pesticide residue levels or acute reference levels in strawberries and cherries sold in Germany.
The comments came in response to a report published by Greenpeace, which stated that five out of 12 batches of cherries sampled at the end of May contained “high levels” of the organophosphate insecticide Dimethoate.
According to Greenpeace, the residues, which were found in Spanish and French cherries, could potentially cause cancer and damage to the human reproductive system.
The group also reported it had found “low level” residues in 28 strawberry samples.
A spokesman for DFHV said research by the EFSA showed Dimethoate posed no such health risks.
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