SPRAY RESIDUE ON APPLES

New Zealand Listener, Volume 8, Issue 197, 2 April 1943, Page 12

SPRAY RESIDUE ON APPLES

(Written for "The Listener" by DR. H. B. TURBOTT, Nutritionist to the Department of Health) HE month of Febguary was a critical time in northern districts for orchards troubled by the codlin moth, and leaf roller caterpillar will take its toll towards apple harvesting time. Growers, therefore, continue to spray with arsenate of lead for these pests, and also use other sprays such as lime sulphur for fungous diseases, or summer oil for the red mite, Bordeaux mixture may be combined with the latter, or used against fungous troubles such as bitter rot. A spraying programme is absolutely mecessary to secure sound fruit. The danger comes from spray left on the fruit. It ‘doesn’t seem economically possible for orchardists to remove all traces of spray residue. Sulphur or lime are not going to hurt us, but lead or arsenic would if present in big enough amounts. The Agriculture Department keeps watch for excess spray residue, -and acts wherever it finds too much deposit on the fruit. However, the staff is limited and, from time to time, apples get on .to the market showing excess spray. As regards danger from lead, one investigation seemed to indicate that the amount of lead present on apples which had been sprayed was too small to be of importance. A substantial quantity of arsenic, in the form of a lead-arsenic compound has occasionally been found on apples. For example, a sample of apples taken from a case delivered to a school last year showing on analysis arsenic present considerably in excess of the permitted maximum. This permitted maximum is fixed at a level which will not affect health. The sample referred to above, taken by a Health Department Officer from a supply delivered to a school for the apples-in-school scheme, had sufficient excess to warrant notice. One way to avoid trouble would be to peel apples and pears before eating them, but while this would be easy enough in our homes, it would be difficult to accomplish at schools. In any case, many folk prefer to eat the peel and so obtain all the vitamin possible. In America, growers have found that washing of fruit in special machines in which it is brushed with an acid solution, yields fruit within the prescribed limit for arsenic. Fruit is so dear here already. that the industry must not be saddled with any new expensive process. But growers should follow the ‘recommended spray schedules of the Agriculture Department: very little of the spray materials should then be present on the fruit at harvest time, Parents should see that children wipe or wash apples and pears at home before these are eaten, and should tell them to be sure to wash their apples at ‘school. Teachers should help at school by insisting that the apples are wiped thoroughly or washed before consumption.