AFRICA – CABI scientists have revealed that pesticides are the most cited source of food safety concerns, followed by microbial food poisoning and food additives from a recent study it conducted in five countries.
The findings highlight the need to address pesticide risk concerns that can undermine consumer demand for nutritious foods such as fruits and vegetables, which are a good source of carbohydrates, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
High concerns about pesticide residues may be due to several factors, including the intensive use of synthetic pesticides and the low adoption of non-chemical pest management strategies.
The study also noted that many consumers believe the use of pesticides, despite potential health risks, improves the shelf life of fresh produce.
Cross-sectional survey data were collected from 8,644 fruit and vegetable consumers in five low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Ghana (West Africa); Kenya and Uganda (East Africa); and Bangladesh and Pakistan (South Asia).
Despite the rapid expansion of modern retail outlets, such as supermarkets, in many LMICs, traditional open-air markets remain the most popular sources of fresh produce.
This is particularly true in rural and peri-urban areas, where consumers are more likely to rely on these markets due to their accessibility and lower prices.
However, the study shows that consumers with heightened concerns about pesticides tend to avoid street vendors and hawkers, favoring more specialized outlets like supermarkets or dedicated produce shops, which are perceived to offer safer options.
According to the research, consumers in Bangladesh and Ghana who expressed strong concerns about pesticide contamination are more likely to grow their own vegetables to mitigate the risks.
This reflects a growing trend toward home-based food production in some regions, driven by concerns about food safety and the desire for greater control over the quality of what people consume.
The study’s authors also noted that while convenience and price remain the dominant factors influencing where most people purchase their produce, concerns about food safety, particularly pesticides, are becoming more significant.
In Kenya, for example, pesticide concerns were closely linked to a preference for purchasing produce directly from farms or at on-farm markets, where consumers feel they have more control over food quality and safety.
Interestingly, the research revealed a stark contrast between consumers in African and Asian countries. In Bangladesh and Pakistan, a significant percentage of shoppers who worried about pesticides turned to supermarkets and specialist shops.
In contrast, this behavior was less common in Kenya, Ghana, and Uganda, where consumers generally preferred traditional open-air markets or relied on home-grown produce.
The researchers called for more robust food safety policies in LMICs, emphasizing the importance of addressing pesticide risks to safeguard public health. They noted that intensive pesticide use poses risks not only to human health but also to the environment, including soil and water contamination.
Public awareness campaigns and better access to food safety information were also identified as critical measures to help consumers make informed decisions about their food.
The study found that, in many cases, consumers were unaware of alternative pest management techniques, such as integrated pest management (IPM), which combines biological, cultural, and physical methods to control pests with minimal chemical use.
Encouraging the adoption of such methods could reduce reliance on synthetic pesticides and improve the overall safety of fresh produce in LMICs.
