Wines Sold By EU Countries 'Contaminated With Pesticides'

Brussels, Belgium (AHN) - The Pesticide Action Network Europe, an umbrella organization for concerned groups in Austria, France and Germany, said wines sold in the European Union (EU) systematically contain traces of pesticides.

According to the environmental group, it has "uncovered substantial evidence" of contamination by studying 40 sample bottles of wines of Australian, Austrian, Chilean, French, Italian, German, Portuguese and South African.

Also included are six wines produced through organic farming. The non-organic bottles of wine contained on average traces of four different pesticides, some having traces from as many as 10 different pesticides.

In a report, the group detected 24 specific pesticide contaminants, including five that were classified by the EU as being carcinogenic, mutagenic, reprotoxic or endocrine disrupting.