The Pro-Test Foundation has published alarming research results concerning popular warming teas available in Polish stores. In ten tested products, numerous pesticide residues were detected, including substances banned in the European Union. The worst result was recorded in a popular tea from the Herbapol brand, where the laboratory identified as many as fifteen different chemical substances. Experts warn that consuming such products may pose a real threat to consumer health.
Record Contamination in Herbapol
In a popular warming tea from Herbapol, 15 types of pesticides were detected, making it the most contaminated product in the Pro-Test Foundation test.
Substances Banned in the EU
In the tested samples, plant protection products were identified whose use is strictly prohibited in European Union countries.
Broad Scale of the Problem
Contaminated products came from various sources, including Lidl, Biedronka, and pharmacies, suggesting a systemic problem among suppliers.
The latest research by the Pro-Test Foundation casts a shadow on the safety of food products that consumers associate with health and naturalness. Nine types of warming teas were analyzed, which typically contain fruit pulp, herbs, and spices. Test results conducted by the Institute of Horticulture in Skierniewice revealed the presence of numerous pesticides pesticides. In one sample, from the renowned producer Herbapol, as many as 15 types of chemicals were detected, which experts describe as a toxic cocktail. In recent years, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has been progressively tightening standards regarding pesticide residues, aiming to eliminate the most carcinogenic substances from the supply chain. The scale of the problem is broad, as contaminated products were found not only in pharmacies but also in major retail chains such as Biedronka and Lidl. Four other products contained from 10 to 14 different substances. Particularly alarming is the detection of compounds whose use in agriculture within the European Union has long been strictly prohibited. Experts point to a legal loophole that allows the marketing of herb and fruit blends without the rigorous control applied to raw agricultural produce. Only two products from the entire test pool turned out to be relatively free of chemicals, containing just one detected compound each. „The results are concerning because the brand with the highest concentration enjoys trust among Polish consumers and is strongly associated with tradition.” — Pro-Test Foundation Representative The problem of chemical overuse in crops intended for tea production is not new, but current data indicates a systemic failure in food safety food safety oversight. Consumers unknowingly buy products meant to build immunity, while in reality, they expose themselves to systematic low-dose poisoning by strong toxins. The matter requires immediate intervention by authorities such as the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate and extensive inspections in the food market. Number of Pesticides Detected in Selected Teas: Herbapol: 15, Product 2: 14, Product 3: 12, Product 4: 10, Others: 1 15 — different pesticides detected in one tea