Lettuce not eat this: Vege 2 Fresh brand of iceberg lettuce pulled from Malaysian shelves

Last week we reported that Singaporean health authorities pulled two brands of lettuce of Malaysian provenance from their supermarket shelves due to excessive pesticide contamination; yesterday, the Malaysian Health Ministry called for outlets to immediately cease sales of the Vege 2 Fresh brand of lettuce after high levels of Fipronil were found.

Similar findings were concluded last week by the Angri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), and two brands of lettuce, Pasar and Iceberg, were pulled from the shelves and immediate cessations of sales called for. Both brands, imported via Go Fresh Impex, were found to contain dangerous levels of Fipronil.

Fipronil is a widely used pesticide for its effect on a wide-range of pests. It’s often used as the active ingredient in flea control products for pets, as well as household cockroach traps, corn fields, golf courses, and commercial turf. Symptoms of acute toxicity via ingestion includes sweating, nausea, vomiting, headache, abdominal pain, dizziness, agitation, weakness, and seizures. Much of these effects are generally reversible and resolve spontaneously. Whether it has long-term, chronic effects is unknown.

If this isn’t enough to make you wonder twice about whether or not it’s work rinsing your vegetables before consuming them, we’ll share with you this last little fact: Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham reported that between 2017 and July of this year, 5,297 samples of sundry fruits and vegetables were taken from local markets and Malaysia’s main entry points to be analysed in their labs. Ninety-seven of the samples, nearly 2%, showed dangerously high levels of pesticide residue.

Ew. Remember folks: Wash and soak your fruit and veg before eating – either raw or cooked. Lecture over. Have a great week ahead.

 



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