Hanoi’s “safe” greens contain excessive pesticides

Mustard greens grown at a “safe” vegetable cooperative in Hanoi have been found to contain pesticides at 12.5 times higher than allowable levels.

Mustard greens grown at a “safe” vegetable cooperative in Hanoi have been found to contain pesticides at 12.5 times higher than allowable levels.

Mustard greens from the popular Van Noi vegetable cooperative in Hanoi have been found to contain excessive levels of pesticides (File photo: Dan Tri)
Mustard greens from the popular Van Noi vegetable cooperative in Hanoi have been found to contain excessive levels of pesticides (File photo: Dan Tri)

The Van Noi cooperative is a large and well-known produce production area in the capital’s Dong Anh District.

The city’s Plant Protection Department announced its findings on February 3 after analyzing the pesticide and metallic content of 24 samples of vegetables collected from supermarkets and other produce sellers in Hanoi.

The mustard greens sample was found to contain 0.25mg/kg of Fipronil, a type of insecticide, while the permitted level is just 0.02mg.

Consuming Fipronil in large amounts can cause acute poisoning, vomiting, dizziness and allergic reactions in humans.

Other news