Is It Safe To Consume Berries?

Are berries safe to eat? Should I be concerned about the pesticide dimethoate?

Australia’s regulator has put a stop to the use of a widely used pesticide for blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries called dimethoate.

What Is Dimethoate?

Dimethoate is a pesticide that has been in use in Australia since 1956.

It falls under a category of pesticides that blocks the enzyme acetylcholinesterase.

This blockage prevents the breakdown of a crucial neurotransmitter (chemical messenger), leading to paralysis of an insect’s nervous system, which ultimately kills it.

Mammals, including humans, also possess the enzyme acetylcholinesterase and can be affected by this type of pesticide.

It’s essential to carefully regulate both the application of dimethoate and the levels of its residues on food to avoid harmful exposure.

The maximum allowable residue levels depend on how much residue is present on food and how much food we consume.

To achieve this, we need to estimate the residue levels on food and the quantity of food we eat.

How much is too much?

The APVMA has set a maximum limit for the amount of dimethoate we should be exposed to through our food.

This limit is referred to as the acute reference dose (ARfD), which is 0.02 milligrams for every kilogram of body weight.

This maximum dose includes a safety factor of ten, meaning it is ten times lower than the lowest dose that has no effect.

This guideline was established in 2017, but it aligns with the current limits set by the World Health Organization and Canadian regulations.

Our eating habits have shifted.

Australians are now consuming a lot more blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries since the last time the APVMA evaluated dimethoate.

Eating more berries is definitely a positive change.

However, this increase means that the current trace amounts of dimethoate found on berries (0.0033 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day for a toddler) could potentially exceed the maximum limit for kids aged two to six years.

The APVMA has stated – The levels of residues found are unlikely to pose a serious risk to human health, but they have suggested suspending these specific dimethoate products as a precaution.

Don’t stop eating berries. They are a vital part of a balanced diet.

The APVMA emphasizes that the risk of harm is low.

The easiest thing you can do is wash your berries. You should be washing all your fruits and vegetables anyway.

Washing helps remove dirt and potentially harmful microorganisms.

Washing berries won’t eliminate all dimethoate, it can significantly lower the levels, allowing you to keep enjoying them and their health benefits.l

DISCLAIMER: This article is derived from information available in the public domain.It’s always a good idea to check your doctor before beginning any new routine.

What Is Dimethoate?

Share this:

Like this:

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Quote Of The Week

Subscribe My Channel

Discover more from Connect2ConnectOnline