A new report from Greenpeace says its testing of Chinese herbs bought in the U.S., U.K., Canada, France, Germany, Italy and The Netherlands contain traces of pesticides, reports The Province and the Guardian.
According to the Guardian, out of 36 herbal products imported from China that were tested, 32 contained at least three pesticides.
Half had residues of pesticides considered highly hazardous by the World Health Organization, although in low concentrations.
“These results are truly shocking and highlight the urgent need to end the use of chemicals in agriculture,” said Greenpeace agricultural campaigner Eric Darier.
However, Health Canada, the government regulator in that country, is disputing those findings.
“Health Canada has not detected the presence of pesticide residues in any traditional Chinese medicine (products),” the ministry said in a statement.
You can read more reaction to the Greenpeace findings and the normal procedure for inspecting the herbs in The Province and the Guardian.
Morris Lee Via Facebook RE: Pesticides Being Found in Chinese Herbs: It doesn't surprise me….it is hard to know what you are buying from products made in China. They will always try to fudge the product to increase their profit. And very little oversight by the gov't.
Chris Young Via Facebook RE: Pesticides Being Found in Chinese Herbs: You know, I talked with somebody up in State College before about the idea of growing more of our herbs domestically instead of importing them all the way from China. I have to imagine this could be an interesting way to expand and diversity our agricultural sector. It was her idea though, not mine. I should see if she ever pursued it.
Mary Yan Via Facebook RE: Pesticides Being Found in Chinese Herbs: It really saddens me but it doesn't surprise me at all. I grew up knowing anything from China cannot be trusted. I mean, you ever think about why we rinse our rice before cooking? My parents said bags of rice used to be notoriously weighted with little pebbles.
This subject is very close to my heart as my mother is a great self-taught herbalist and I have wanted to pursue Chinese Traditional Medicine since I was young, but the industry is rife with issues such as this. Sadly, ABCs are taking CTM classes taught by white people in America because it's supposed to be more "pure". I was told that Mao pretty much destroyed most of CTM knowledge.
There's a white lady with a Chinese herbal medicine farm up in Marin County- Peg Shafer. I went to one of her presentations, and let me tell you- as the only Asian person present, I felt so hurt from the accusations of unpure, tampered with, and even poisoned Chinese products she talked about.
I believe Peg Shafer is spearheading the local Chinese herbal medicine farming on the West Coast. I'm just really sad it isn't someone from whose ancestry this medicine came from.
Nan Kc J Via Facebook RE: Pesticides Being Found in Chinese Herbs: uc botanical gardens @strawberry canyon has a Asian herbal garden section,very interesting plants ..I think they use to have a docent who gave monthly tours of those herbs.
Dimon Liu Via Facebook RE: Pesticides Being Found in Chinese Herbs: Yes. I stopped buying tea from China for the same reason…
Leland Wong Via Facebook RE: Pesticides Being Found in Chinese Herbs: sometimes i wonder if stories like these are intended by china haters.
Sue D. Nim via Facebook RE: Pesticides Found in Chiense Herbs: I don't use these herbs
From Tyrone Liu via Facebook RE: Pesticides Found in Chinese Herbs: "just say NO!!
I always say that all of that "good stuff" doesn't do any good if you can't swallow it. LOL."
From Sue D Nim via Facebook RE: Pesticides Found in Chinese Herbs: "
i very politely decline any efforts to feed this stuff to me or my kids."