Why are so many unapproved chemicals found in European-grown organic food?

Credit: Creative Commons
Credit: Creative Commons

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published a report that investigates the occurrence of 21 active substances frequently present in organic products that are not compliant with organic regulations, and identifies possible reasons for their presence in organic foods.

The 21 active substances included in the report are not naturally occurring, and are not authorized for use in organic production, but have been or are approved for use in plant protection products. 

Follow the latest news and policy debates on sustainable agriculture, biomedicine, and other ‘disruptive’ innovations. Subscribe to our newsletter.

For each substance, several potential sources of residues were identified, such as the accumulation of residues in soil, the transfer of residues from water sources used for irrigation, and spray drift from conventional crops. Since some of the substances are registered as biocides or veterinary medicines under REACH, these uses may also release residues in the environment that may be transferred from the environment to plants and to food/feed commodities

This is an excerpt. Read the original post here

{{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.singularReviewCountLabel }}
{{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.pluralReviewCountLabel }}
{{ options.labels.newReviewButton }}
{{ userData.canReview.message }}

Related Articles

Infographic: Global regulatory and health research agencies on whether glyphosate causes cancer

Infographic: Global regulatory and health research agencies on whether glyphosate causes cancer

Does glyphosate—the world's most heavily-used herbicide—pose serious harm to humans? Is it carcinogenic? Those issues are of both legal and ...

Most Popular

Picture1
The FDA couldn’t find a vaccine safety crisis, so it buried its own research
Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-12.21.32-PM
Viewpoint: Why the retracted Monsanto glyphosate study doesn’t change the science—the world’s most popular herbicide is safe 
ChatGPT-Image-May-7-2026-12_32_36-PM
Viewpoint: The state of U.S. vaccine policy? Dismal nationally, but some states are stepping up.
placebo
Viewpoint — Alternative medicine and the placebo effect: Selling a reassuring illusion of health
Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.46.29-AM
Viewpoint: How to counter science disinformation? Science journalist offers 12 practical tips
Screenshot-2026-04-13-at-1.39.26-PM
Viewpoint: ‘Safer for children?’ Stonyfield yogurt under fire for deceptive organic marketing
_20250221_nib_rfk_trump
Viewpoint: 'Crisis of public trust': Autism support community shocked RFK continues to peddle false claims about the danger of vaccines
ChatGPT-Image-May-18-2026-01_45_05-PM-2
Newest hantavirus conspiracy: Online disinformation turns outbreak into latest ivermectin grift
the magic of mRNA
Viewpoint: Anti-vax fake ‘turbo cancer’ claims threaten cancer treatment breakthroughs
ChatGPT-Image-May-7-2026-12_16_37-PM-2
Viewpoint: Are cancer rates ‘skyrocketing’ as RFK, Jr. and MAHA claim? The evidence says mostly the opposite
artificial intelligence brain think illustration md
Viewpoint — Digital gods and human extinction: Will we be the first species ever to design our own descendants?
glp menu logo outlined

Get news on human & agricultural genetics and biotechnology delivered to your inbox.