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Pesticide Scores
The Greening Supermarkets Report produced annually by the National Consumer Council.
Here are their scores for Pesticides in their latest report:
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ASDA
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COOPERATIVE
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D
Asda supports the development of industrywide standards and practices, such as organic standards and sustainable packaging. It will treble its range of organic food this year.
Asda supports integrated crop management (ICM) techniques to reduce use of chemical pesticide use. Asda’s ‘pesticide reduction schemes’ aim to reduce residues, and its suppliers work to (LOD) limit of detection levels (0.01mg/kg) rather than maximum residue limits (MRLs).
Asda advocates schemes to reduce, and set targets to eliminate, use of the more hazardous chemicals such as carbendazim, lindane, chlorpryriphos, aldicarb and vinclozolin.
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C
Co-op has banned some pesticides and tightened controls on others, and reports transparently on its pesticide residue testing.
Co-op works with farmers worldwide to improve chemical controls, use more benign chemicals, and reduce reliance on chemicals.
In the UK this focuses on potatoes, carrots, onions, mushrooms and cauliflowers, and overseas on coffee, pineapples, bananas, exotic fruit and vegetables. There are plans to focus also on cereals, cocoa and high risk crops (lettuce, citrus, top and soft fruit).
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M&S
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MORRISON
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C
M&S is a strong supporter of integrated crop management and a founder member of LEAF. All its suppliers work to M&S’ ‘Field to Fork’ leading standards – including pesticide use.
M&S’ pesticide minimisation policy includes the use of biological control systems in crop production overseas.
M&S is reviewing its pesticide policy, having achieved many of its 2003 objectives. M&S banned 60 pesticides in 2003 and is phasing out 19 more. In 2004 it was rated the leading retailer on minimising pesticides by Friends of the Earth. M&S is working toward reduced or zero pesticide use – for example, residue-free raspberries and apples and methyl bromide replacements in strawberry production.
M&S independent residue testing programme covers 47,500 product/active ingredient combinations annually. It was one of the first retailers to publish this data on its website.
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D
Morrisons sells a range of organic foods including meat, fish, poultry, eggs, bread, dairy products, fresh fruit and vegetables, cereals, wine, tea and coffee. It continually reviews the range.
Its comprehensive pesticide surveillance programme includes membership of the Assured Produce Scheme and EurepGap, which cover pesticide use, monitoring and control. Most of its fresh produce suppliers are either members of, or in the process of being accredited to, these schemes and also carry out their own pesticide residue testing programmes.
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SAINSBURY's
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SOMERFIELD
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B
Following the launch of Sainsbury’s ‘So Organic’ range in September 2005, organic sales have grown by 20 per cent. The range has also broadened, with price cuts on 100 lines. Initiatives such as ‘Farm Promise’ milk from farms ‘in conversion’ to organic are helping to grow product availability. Sainsbury’s seeks to reduce pesticides, using natural alternatives wherever possible, in its own brand. The company monitors pesticide residue year-round. Products exceeding maximum residue levels (MRL) are removed pending control measures. The number of products with any detected pesticide residue has dropped from 53 per cent in 2004/5 to 49.6 per cent in 2005/6, reducing those above the MRL by half. Sainsbury’s is developing crop action plans with twelve supplier groups to minimise pesticide residues on a dozen fruit and vegetable crops.
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E
Somerfield offers organic products where there is space and demand. The company is working with the Assured Produce Scheme (APS) and EurepGap to minimise pesticide use.
It aims to achieve ‘no detectable residues’ by means of good agricultural practice.
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TESCO
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WAITROSE
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C
Tesco’s integrated farm management scheme, ‘Nature’s Choice’, ensures that fruit, vegetables and salad meet high safety and environmental standards. Ninety per cent of suppliers met the requirements. In 2005/6 and Tesco aims to increase this to 100 per cent by 2007. The standards include use of pesticides and fertilisers, responsible use of energy, water and other natural resources, pollution prevention, and wildlife and landscape conversation.
Tesco has reviewed the use of 10,000 pesticides used on 90 crops worldwide.
It has banned 260 and more strictly controlled 1,000 more.
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B
Waitrose offers one of the widest organic ranges – more than 1,300 products. Waitrose organic sales have a 17 per cent share of the organic market, against Waitrose’s 3.8 per cent overall market share.
Waitrose uses the LEAF marque extensively and is the only retailer to insist that all its British growers adopt it.
Waitrose’s policy either restricts or prohibits altogether the use of a number of agro-chemicals.
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