CLAYTON NORTH, Victoria, Australia—AUSVEG voiced its concern about the discovery in southwest China of almost 10,000 tons of toxic vegetables with excessive pesticide residues, raising concerns over Australia’s increasing reliance on imported produce and the potential health implications for consumers.
While Chinese authorities have put health controls in place since the frightening discovery, AUSVEG Communications Manager Hugh Tobin said that it was alarming to think that other regions might be producing toxic vegetables for export.
“Australia is increasingly relying on imported produce that is unreliable in quality and is potentially harmful to our health. Australian produce is grown under strict regulation ensuring consumer health is protected. Australian growers are struggling to compete with cheaper imported produce that may not be produced under the same stringent quality controls,” he said. “Australian-grown vegetables may be available now, but with examples such as what’s happened in China, it’s worrying to think of the implications from our increasing reliance on imported products, particularly in frozen vegetables.”
