Lord Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 If you're someone who treasures your steaming hot cup of tea and uses it to unwind, relax and pace your thoughts, then you might be in for a real shocker! On Monday, the Food and Agriculture team of Greenpeace India, a non-profit organisation that has been dealing with environmental issues since 2001 released a rather worrisome report that talks about the current situation of the tea industry in India. Between June 2013 and May 2014, the team tested 49 different packaged teas from eight of the top 11 companies that not only dominate the branded tea market in India but also export to countries like Russia, Britain, the US, the UAE and Iran. Here's a short summary of the report: 46 of the 49 samples contained residues of at least one pesticide. 29 of the samples tested positive for a cocktail of toxic pesticides. A total of 34 pesticides were found across different brands. DDT (known for its insecticidal properties) was present in almost 67 percent of the tea samples even though it is no longer registered for use in agriculture in India and was banned in 1989. Neha Saigal, a senior campaigner for Greenpeace India said that, "Indian tea is a national pride and it should not be linked to toxic chemicals with serious environmental and health risks. All stakeholders in the tea industry should come forward and take steps to safeguard the reputation of our national drink." *UPDATE* Crop Care Federation Rubbishes Greenpeace Report, Says Indian Tea is Pesticide-Free What Does the Tea Board of India Say The Tea Board of India was quick to respond and refuted these allegations stating that the tea being offered by the listed Indian brands is 'totally safe' and meet high standards. They also claimed that they would work to dispel any misconceptions about Indian tea in the eyes of the Indian consumer. The Tea Board of India later said in a statement: "Having reviewed the findings of the Greenpeace study, we can confirm that all the samples tested comply with Indian laws and regulations that have been designed to protect consumers. Indian teas are well regarded world over, are totally safe and follow stringent standards." They added, "The Indian tea industry led by the Tea Board of India has been constantly taking steps to make tea cultivation even more sustainable and reduce reliance on synthetic plant protection products to ensure that Indian tea continues to meet the high standards that consumers expect." The steps include the launch of an initiative that will have certified at least 50 million kg of tea by December 2014 and the development of a "plant protection code" to aid best practice in tea cultivation. The Tea Board of India concluded by saying that it was open to collaborating with all stakeholders to help make tea production more sustainable in the long run. http://cooks.ndtv.com/article/show/tea-from-indian-brands-have-pesticides-study-574713 Tea,chicken,soft drinks.Leave something alone BCs :wall:
Lord Posted August 13, 2014 Author Posted August 13, 2014 This is the study report which names all brands tests and pesticides deteacted in them.Brooke Bond Label leads the race with 20 pesticides :aha: http://www.greenpeace.org/india/Global/india/image/2014/cocktail/download/TroubleBrewing.pdf
FischerTal Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 if that was the case, why haven't foreign countries banned them? surely the EU and US would have taken notice if the levels of pesticide are so high
velu Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 i am a heavy tea drinker .. anyway .. i am happy that T will kill the pests if there are any in my stomach
Lord Posted August 13, 2014 Author Posted August 13, 2014 if that was the case' date=' why haven't foreign countries banned them? surely the EU and US would have taken notice if the levels of pesticide are so high[/quote'] Indian brands' tea sell in US?
Detonator Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 Green Peace? Isn't it the NGO that funded anti-nuke protests in Kudangulam? Their "studies" and "reports" are notorious for being anything made in India is dangerous. I partially agree with the report though. I have lived in tea estates, there are many plantations dedicated for exports without using pesticides. However, in the lower foothills, some greedy estate owners, owning land with poor soil in lower elevations, use hybrid seeds, harmful fertilizers, and pesticides for higher yeild (lesser the elevation, higher risk of various bugs and small animals).
Detonator Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 The study is trying to paint all brands as harmful, but one can prove with proper ground research that only few are bad. All the export quality tea is throughly tested by the international buyers.
FischerTal Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 Indian brands' tea sell in US? i buy wagh bakri every month
Lord Posted August 13, 2014 Author Posted August 13, 2014 i buy wagh bakri every month Start using US brands now :--D
India-KXIP fan Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 i am a heavy tea drinker .. anyway .. i am happy that T will kill the pests if there are any in my stomach :blink: Wat :hysterical:
FischerTal Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 Start using US brands now :--D maybe lipton or tetley? what do you use?
Crookbond Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 i buy wagh bakri every month Rishte banaye, Waagh Bakri chai :cantstop:
FischerTal Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 Rishte banaye' date= Waagh Bakri chai :cantstop: i still don't know who came up with the name wagh bakri for a tea brand :cantstop:
Lord Posted August 13, 2014 Author Posted August 13, 2014 maybe lipton or tetley? what do you use? Tata tea.It is there in the report as are Lipton and Tetley
FischerTal Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 Tata tea.It is there in the report as are Lipton and Tetley i thought lipton tetley are british brands?
Old guy Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 was drinking tea when i read this Do they sell Indian brands in ur country ?
Ram Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 Given the way things are going in India these days, would be more appropriate if it were titled 'Pesticides from Indian brands have tea: Study'
Cricket_Hacker Posted August 13, 2014 Posted August 13, 2014 Do they sell Indian brands in ur country ? abe india mai indian brands nahi milega toh kya milega :hmmm:
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