The Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Iran, following the renewed reports and news regarding the 'contamination' of fruits and vegetables produced in Iran on social media and domestic media, states that the amount of pesticide used in agricultural products is not as high as some people fear. Mohammad Ali Bagestani, the Deputy Minister of Jihad Agriculture, said on April 15 that 'media sometimes exaggerate these issues, or individuals do not make correct judgments.' The IRNA news agency reports that the recent dissemination of information regarding the contamination of fruits and vegetables on social media has heightened public concern, claiming that their consumption leads to dangerous diseases. The Deputy Minister of Agriculture mentioned that 'to reassure the public, samples of agricultural products offered in the fruit and vegetable markets of Tehran were tested, and only one percent of pesticides exceeding the permissible limit was observed in some products.' Shortly before this, Rahmatollah Hafezi, the head of the Health and Environment Commission of the Tehran City Council, stated in an interview with the Law newspaper that in the studies conducted on agricultural products in the fruit and vegetable markets, 'from watermelon to onion and potato and peach, all had contamination, but the level of contamination has decreased compared to the past.' He noted that samples of three pollutants, including lead and nitrate, indicate that none of the products were 'free of contamination.' This member of the Tehran City Council also mentioned that regarding pesticides, 23 percent of products are contaminated. Concerns about pesticide use in agricultural products or the use of wastewater for irrigation have been raised before; for instance, last July, the Mehr news agency quoted the Minister of Health as saying that the ministry had requested the Supreme Council of Health and Food Security and the Council for Pesticide Consumption Oversight to be more active. At that time, Hassan Hashemi stated, 'We do not have sufficient oversight over pharmacies that legally sell pesticides.' The Deputy Minister of Agriculture also mentioned that the main concern of that ministry regarding pesticide use is in the cultivation of vegetables and fruits. Mohammad Ali Bagestani also stated that regarding the use of hormones, the Ministry of Health has not yet provided a 'strong opinion' on this matter. The Tehran City Council has requested the Ministry of Agriculture to adopt barcoding for monitoring and tracking agricultural products.
Ministry of Agriculture: Don't Worry About Pesticide Use in Agricultural Products
The Iranian Deputy Minister of Agriculture downplays public concerns about pesticide contamination in fruits and vegetables, stating that only a small percentage exceeds safety limits. This comes amid rising fears fueled by social media reports, while health officials acknowledge some level of contamination in various products. The situation highlights ongoing debates about agricultural safety and public health in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture reassured the public about pesticide use in Iranian fruits and vegetables, claiming that contamination levels are not as severe as reported. This statement comes amid rising public concern fueled by social media and health officials acknowledging some contamination in agricultural products.
- Only one percent of tested products exceeded permissible pesticide limits according to the Deputy Minister.
- 23 percent of agricultural products were reported to be contaminated according to the Tehran City Council.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has been grappling with food safety issues, particularly regarding pesticide use and contamination in agricultural products. Public awareness and concern have been heightened by social media reports.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%