News archive: August 2006

A Daily Express reader responds to the National Farmers' Union's letter about measures the government has taken to prevent bystander exposure to pesticide spraying. Sophie Mepham writes, "I would like to know why so much is done at the spraying stage to protect us when we end up ingesting the very chemicals Mr Clark says farmers try to protect us from. The Government, farming and food production industries need to wake up to the use of these potentially dangerous chemicals on our everyday food and their impact on our health. It is no surprise that the organic food market is becoming increasingly popular. Stop messing with our food."

The United Nations has just issued a stark warning: that death from excess has now overtaken that from deficiency. Eight hundred million people are hungry, but a billion are overweight - and the figure is rocketing up. (The Daily Telegraph)

Asda is running a 'pilot' scheme to allow farmers to deliver food direct to Asda stores. The scheme will run in Cornwall, using mini distribution hubs at farms taking part. The scheme has already been running in Cumbria where farms double up as distribution centres. One farmer from Cumbria estimates the scheme is cutting down on 'thousands and thousands' of food miles. (Asda Press Centre)

Coca-Cola and PepsiCo faced mounting pressure yesterday when two more Indian states banned the sale of their soft drinks at government-run schools, colleges and hospitals over allegations they contain high levels of pesticides. Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh joined five other states in banning the sale of Coke, Pepsi, Sprite and other drinks made by the Indian subsidiaries of Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. The Centre for Science and Environment said last week its tests on 57 samples of soft drinks made by the US giants revealed they contained residues of pesticides 24 times higher than Indian standards allowed. It said almost all soft drinks sold in India contain high levels of pesticides, but it focused on Coca-Cola and PepsiCo because the two account for nearly 80 per cent of India's $2bn (£1bn) soft drinks market. The companies issued a joint statement last week saying both "comply with stringent international norms and all applicable