Like you, the Soil Association is concerned about a range of issues to do with food and health. Right now they are helping to raise awareness about pesticide use in farming.

Pesticides and you

Over 86 per cent of the public say that they do not want any leftover pesticides in their food Government tests suggest that one in every four items of food you buy contains traces of pesticides 150 of the commonly used pesticides are potentially cancer causing Some cannot be washed off.

Organic farmers with the Soil Association can use, as a last resort, only four of the 350 pesticides in use. Although two of the chemicals are strictly controlled, the Soil Association wants to go further, and are phasing out one completely.

The Soil Association want to see:

A reduction in the use of pesticides on all farms

A pesticide tax to reflect the fact that through water rates people pay towards the £225 million needed to clean agricultural pollutants from our water supply.

Buying organic food with the Soil Association’s symbol or code (UK5) helps you avoid food grown with pesticides.

Get involved

To find out more about pesticides visit www.soilassociation.org/pesticides