Our Food At Risk – 3 Talks Online

Did you know that New Zealand children have higher levels
of the insecticide chlorpyrifos in their blood than some
other countries, such as the USA and Spain? Public health
researcher Alison White will look at a study published this
year at an online talk and what we can do about it. A
parliamentary petition will be launched urging the urgent
reassessment and ban of the controversial insecticide known
to damage children’s brains and their
neurodevelopment.

“Chlorpyrifos is now banned in at
least 39 different countries, including the EU, UK and
Canada,“ commented Ms White, who is Co-convenor of the
Safe Food Campaign. “Children are particularly at risk
from exposure to even minute amounts of chlorpyrifos, such
as residues in food,” she said. “The unborn infant is
even more vulnerable: exposure to even very low levels at
the foetal stage can result in structural changes in the
developing brain and losses in cognitive function,
particularly IQ and working memory.”

Online talks
will also be given on gene editing by Claire Bleakley and
fluoridation in NZ by Mary Byrne.

People can link to
the zoom event for Saturday 3 September 2.30pm-4pm on the
Safe Food Campaign Facebook page, or email alison@safefood.org.nz
for more
details.

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