Pesticide concerns are real

National Post, Richard Wiles
Published April 25, 2006

Re: How Pesticides Are Saving The Earth, Patrick Moore, April 20. I'm not sure how much stock to put in Patrick Moore's argument that "pesticides are saving the Earth" when he can't get his basic facts straight. He says the Environmental Working Group was behind a 1989 campaign against the apple additive Alar. EWG wasn't formed until 1993. The Alar campaign was led by the National Resources Defense Council, and far from being a "food scare," it got rid of a chemical that the Environmental Protection Agency, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Academies of Science and the World Health Organization have said causes cancer in lab animals and poses particular risks for children. As for Mr. Moore's claim that warnings about pesticides scare people away from eating fresh fruit and vegetables, this is a chemical industry canard for which he cites no evidence. We publish a free Shopper's Guide that tells consumers which foods are highest and lowest in pesticide residues, so they can decide for themselves when buying organic is the smartest choice. Richard Wiles, senior vice-president, Environmental Working Group, Washington, D.C.