Media Release 9 February 2023
Children are at risk from a toxic pesticide – New Zealand should urgently reassess chlorpyrifos.
We urgently need to get this toxic pesticide out of our children’s food. It’s been found in many foods, including raisins, peanut butter, tomatoes, a range of summer fruit and green vegetables.
Children in New Zealand are being exposed to potentially dangerous levels of a toxic insecticide known to harm their brains, and more than in other countries.
At 11.30am Thursday 9 February, the Safe Food Campaign is presenting a petition to Grant Robertson, calling for an urgent reassessment and ban of the insecticide chlorpyrifos. It is found in many foods and the environment in New Zealand, but already banned in 39 countries. [i] The petition is supported by an alliance of civil society organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand.
"Children are particularly at risk from exposure to even minute amounts of chlorpyrifos, such as residues in food"
“Children are particularly at risk from exposure to even minute amounts of chlorpyrifos, such as residues in food,” said Alison White of the Safe Food Campaign.