According to a new report published on Tuesday, one in five coffee bean packets sold in Europe contains pesticidepesticide/ˈpɛstɪsaɪd/L2杀虫剂；农药a chemical substance used to kill insects or other pests that damage crops residuesresidues/ˈrɛzɪdjuːz/L2残留物；余渣small amounts of a substance that remain after a process or after most of it has been removed. These residues survive the roasting process, contrary to what companies claim, and some of the pesticides are banned because they cause cancer. The report was created by Coffee Watch, PAN UK, and German development groups, who found a 'systemic pattern' of pesticides in beans from major production regions. The researchers warn that companies' reassurances are not always true.
21 percent of roasted samples tested positive for pesticidepesticide/ˈpɛstɪsaɪd/L2杀虫剂；农药a chemical substance used to kill insects or other pests that damage crops residuesresidues/ˈrɛzɪdjuːz/L2残留物；余渣small amounts of a substance that remain after a process or after most of it has been removed. However, some of these chemicals are not allowed on European farms, but European companies export them to coffee-growing countries. Then these chemicals return on the coffee beans, which creates a toxictoxic/ˈtɒksɪk/L2有毒的poisonous; containing harmful substances that can cause illness or death double standard. 'Dangerous pesticides are ending up in our cups, even though they have been banned in the EU,' said Angeliki Lysimachou of PAN Europe.
As a result, these pesticides are linked to cancer and reproductive harm. Sixty percent of pesticides used in coffee farming are highly hazardoushazardous/ˈhæzədəs/L2危险的；有害的dangerous; involving risk or harm, especially to health or the environment, according to the report. The report calls on the EU to act now to end this unethicalunethical/ʌnˈɛθɪkəl/L2不道德的；违反伦理的not morally right; not following accepted standards of behavior and unfair double standard. Many consumers do not know about this hidden risk, and the findings point to a 'toxic double standard'.
