CHEMICALS IN FOOD
Food in the UK and six other EU countries contains harmful pesticides and industrial chemicals according to a report by the WWF.
Substances such as banned organochlorine pesticides in fish and reindeer meat, artificial musks and organotins in fish, and flame retardants in meat were detected.
Traces of pollutants which are linked to health problems such as cancer and foetal deformities were found in every one of twenty five food products tested.
The WWF said the report was based on tests carried out on food samples from supermarkets in Britain, Spain, Greece, Italy, Finland and Poland. The harmful chemicals found in food are used in the manufacture of products including packaging, detergent, cosmetics and pesticides.
Experts said the findings could explain why all 352 blood samples provided in a different study were found to be contaminated with chemicals.
Although none of the chemicals in the quantities detected is thought to be dangerous the WWF is concerned about the possible effect of the different chemicals combining in the body. The WWF says not enough is known about the long term effects of the chemicals.