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NGO Launches Campaign to Remove Food Produced with Methyl Bromide
from American Supermarket Shelves
Prague, November 23, 2004. The
Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) is launching a campaign
to convince United States supermarkets to stop selling food, such
as tomatoes, strawberries and nuts, grown or treated with the
deadly chemical methyl bromide. EIA, an independent, international
non-profit organization, is investigating the supply chains for
major supermarkets and will be campaigning to have products produced
with methyl bromide removed from shelves across the nation.
Methyl bromide is harmful to the global environment as well as
to human health. It is a potent contributor to the destruction
of the ozone layer. Damage to the ozone layer results in increased
rates of skin cancer and cataracts around the world, particularly
among children.
Direct exposure to this toxic chemical can result in headaches,
nausea, chest and abdominal pain, respiratory failure, and even
death. Many strawberry and tomato fields treated with methyl bromide
are located so near as to endanger homes, schools, and churches.
The pesticide has also been identified as a significant source
of occupational illness, injuring the farm workers who grow these
crops. In addition to the acute effects of exposure, a recent
United States study of over 55,000 male pesticide applicators
found that methyl bromide users had a statistically greater risk
of developing prostate cancer, and those who had longer exposure
to the chemical were at higher risk.
This week the global community has gathered in Prague, Czech
Republic, to determine how best to end the use of methyl bromide.
Pursuant to the Montreal Protocol, the international treaty designed
to save the ozone layer, the world’s developed countries
are supposed to complete phase out of methyl bromide use by 2005;
however, some countries have dragged their feet on this phase
out. The United States, the largest user of methyl bromide in
the world, is actually seeking to increase its use of methyl bromide
in the years to come.
EIA President Allan Thornton stated “There are viable alternatives
to the use of methyl bromide. Supermarket chains such as Safeway,
Whole Foods, Albertson’s, Kroger and Wal-Mart need to ensure
that their shelves are free of produce grown or treated with this
deadly chemical. We will be writing to major supermarkets to ask
them to stop supporting the continued use of methyl bromide.
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Contact Details:
R. Juge Gregg
Senior Campaigner EIA
USTel: +1 (202) 483-6621
Temporary Mobile: +420 731 018 801
jugegregg@eia-international.org
Ashley Misplon
EIA Press Co-ordinator
Office: +44 207 354 7960
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