UK independent television is carrying a news item on their teletext service
today about pesticide levels in fruit. The UK Government is advising parents
to wash and peel fruit before giving it to children as residues of up to four
times the permitted level of organophosphates have been found. The news item
mentioned that OPs were the chemicals thought to be responsible for Gulf War
syndrome and for illness in farmers who dip sheep. In 1995 the UK Government
warned consumers about high levels of OP residues in carrots and suggested
peeling them and removing the top and bottom. They blamed the drought then
and will no doubt have some reason for the contaminated fruit.
This, and other Organic news, can be found at
http://www.midnet.com/midnet/organic/news.htm