Belize market vegetables are not tested for toxic agricultural chemicals!
Why be concerned about pesticides?
Many pesticides cannot be washed off; so if our produce has been sprayed with toxic pesticides our family's health is at risk. And many studies show that pesticides inhibit nutrients in plants, contaminate water, compromise soil, and pollute the air.
WHAT WE CAN DO!
Contact our Government Officials
and let them know that we want produce grown here and imported tested!
| See Sample letters sent to Government Officials by Pro-Organic Belize |
| Jose Abelardo Mai, Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise |
804-2079 info@agriculture.gov.bz |
| Keven Barnard, Minister of Health and Wellness Belize |
informationofficer@health.gov.bz |
| Samantha Banner, Director, Belize Bureau of Standards |
helpdesk@bbs.gov.bz |
| Zoe Zetina, Managing Director BAHA |
admin@baha.org.bz |
Clean Food is a project of
Pro-organic Belize
Many
Belizeans are concerned that the food we eat may have
pesticide residue. We don’t know; our produce is not
being tested for pesticides, nor is any imported
produce.
Here is the list
of diseases that have increased in incidence since
the introduction and wide spread use of
pesticides:
| Autism Miscarriages Birth defects Cancer Parkinson’s disease Diabetes Alzheimer’s Disease Leukemia Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Intestinal disorders |
Low sperm count Digestive problems Autoimmune disorders – lupus, arthritis Chronic kidney disease Impaired thyroid function Hydrocephaly (small head) and cleft pallet Hyperactivity Obesity |
Links to
more info:
Articles and Research
| Diabetes,
Breast Cancer and Glyphosate 10 Most Used Pesticides in Belize and their Links to Health Issues |
| Examples: |
| Atrazine both
"de-masculates" and "feminizes" vertebrate male
gonads. Atrazine exposure interferes with and
reduces the production of male hormones
(androgens) while increasing the effect and
production of estrogen (female hormones). Low
fertility, low sperm count, and poor semen
quality were also associated with atrazine
exposure in humans living in agricultural areas.
Glyphosate consumption from food has been shown to have substantial part in insulin resistance making it a severe concern to those with type 2 diabetes. Nearly 45,000 people in Belize have diabetes. G G
 Clean food means
pesticide-free food! |