New insecticide proposal for Aussie berries sparks concern

Health experts and advocates have raised concerns after Australian regulators received a proposal to increase the use of an insecticide called isocycloseram on berries.

This is despite official advice that the insecticide is safe for agricultural use and that Australian berries remain safe to eat.

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has been reviewing an application by Syngenta Australia, the makers of the product in Australia, to permanently establish or expand the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) and register the chemical for broader agricultural use.

While the APVMA was “satisfied” the product “would not be harmful to people”, the proposal has triggered safety concerns from health experts and advocates who are concerned not enough is known about the long-term impacts of the chemical, which was first approved for use in smaller doses in Australia in 2021.

“Kids love berries. So the question is why are regulators now approving limits to be increased by so much?” paediatric nutritionist Mandy Sacher told nine.com.au.

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“Surely we should be protecting the fruit kids enjoy on a daily basis, knowing they’ve got a lower threshold because they’ve got a lower kilogram ratio, so the amount of pesticides they ingest has got a higher ratio to their kilogram of body weight.”

Got a story? Email reporter Jo Abi at jabi@nine.com.au.

Sacher cites animal studies testing isocycloseram on rats. These tests used much higher levels of the insecticide that would be consumed by humans.

“Regulators will say these were animal studies and there’s no way that humans are going to eat enough of it to get these effects. But what we haven’t studied, and where the research is limited, is in the cumulative effects,” Sacher said.

“Eating a whole range of food over the course of a day, a week, a month, and a year, where every single ingredient, every single piece of fresh produce has got these pesticides and these chemicals – how do they all gather synergistically in the body, and what are the side effects? Research is lagging.”

The Pesticide Action Group has also raised concerns, calling isocycloseram a “forever chemical”.

“It’s a risk to this generation and to those who follow, and it will persist in our soil, water and wildlife for generations to come,” the group states.

“Looking at the bigger picture, once again Australians are being exposed to a new chemical the full consequences of which may take decades to reveal – and by then, multiple generations will have been affected.”

Food scientist Dr Emma Beckett has defended the proposal, saying “farmers don’t use pesticides for no reason”.

“It costs them money, time and effort to buy, apply and manage. The reality is growing fresh fruits and vegetables is very complex, and decisions need to be based on balance,” she said.

“The goal should be effective integrated pest management that minimises unnecessary pesticide use while protecting crops, people and the environment.”

Beckett urges calm as the proposal is considered.

“The system is very transparent. We know about this proposal because the APVMA puts out a call for submissions,” she said.

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“If they had (unlikely as it is) missed any science, it’s an opportunity for input. These systems are not set and forget. If more evidence comes in, reassessment occurs.”

She added: “The regulator does factor in the fact that kids eat these foods and are small, they model on very high consumption of all the foods, possibly using them, and then they add a generous safety margin on top of that.

“They are definitely not underestimating consumption in kids.”

A spokesperson for the APVMA told nine.com.au MRLs are set at levels that pose no risk to human health.

“Based on the intended uses in accordance with the strict directions on the label, the APVMA was satisfied that the product would not be harmful to people, animals or the environment,” they said.

“The health-related conclusions outlined in the public summary remain valid for the approved minor use in berries.

“The APVMA used expected residue levels in berries and assessed them against safe dietary levels. These assessments were based on the latest Australian berry consumption data, applying internationally recognised methodologies. The dietary exposure assessments were verified by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSAANZ).

“The APVMA is satisfied that treated berries are safe for all consumers.”

They added that safety assessments are based on “the entire consumption of the chemical from all use patterns, assuming the person is consuming every single item on a list (in this case, a list of 39 foods) every day of their lives and assuming that every one of those foods has been treated with this chemical”.

“This is known as the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI).”

For those who remain concerned, Sacher suggested switching to organic berries, however acknowledged these come at an additional cost.

“It’s a pressure on parents who want to do the right thing for their children. They don’t want to expose them to pesticides and insecticides, but they just are limited by what their budget can afford,” she said.

An affordable alternative she suggested is to choose fruits such as bananas and melons, which have a thick skin that can work as a barrier.

For those still wanting an affordable way to include berries in their diets, she suggested switching to frozen organic berries.