Addressing a recent study by Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN Europe), Jean-Claude Müller, president of the Lëtzebuerger Landesuebstbauveräin – Luxembourg’s National Fruit Growers’ Association – said on RTL Radio that he was shocked by the conclusions being drawn and by the way Luxembourg’s apple growers were being portrayed. The study, which has been relayed and commented on by the Luxembourg association Mouvement écologique, found that 85% of apples sold in Europe contain pesticide residues, with Luxembourg samples showing an average of five different residues per apple and some containing up to seven.
The environmental group warned of a “chemical cocktail” and raised concerns about potential risks, particularly for children.
Müller strongly rejected the suggestion that apple growers were endangering children’s health, describing such claims as deeply misleading. He contended such accusations even amount to “defamation of an entire profession” that, in his view, carries out its work honestly, responsibly, and in line with existing regulations.
According to Müller, the residues identified are far below levels considered harmful. He noted that modern analytical techniques are extremely sensitive and can detect minute traces without those traces being harmful. By way of comparison, he said it is possible to detect sugar in the Upper Sûre Lake even though this does not mean the water has become polluted, a situation he sees as comparable to pesticide residues in fruit.
The Mouvement écologique has also criticised the fact that food safety authorities assess individual substances rather than the long-term effects of combined residues. Müller pointed out that this issue is monitored at European level by the European Food Safety Authority, which regularly reassesses authorised products and evaluates potential risks. While long-term research is still ongoing, he said this does not mean the issue is being ignored by regulators.
While defending current practices, Müller said he understands public concern and reiterated that growers themselves want to produce healthy fruit. However, he argued that large-scale fruit production is necessary in modern societies, as not everyone can grow their own food. At that scale, he said, the use of certain plant protection products remains unavoidable.
He nevertheless stressed that Luxembourg’s fruit growers are already working to reduce pesticide use wherever possible through integrated production methods, avoiding chemical treatments when natural predators are sufficient and using alternative techniques such as pest-disruption systems. Suggestions that orchards are routinely sprayed with harmful chemical mixtures, he said, do not reflect reality.
The study also identified substances considered by the EU to be candidates for substitution. Müller said growers aim to replace such products wherever viable alternatives exist and rely on specialised advisory services, often from abroad, to help reduce pesticide use further.
Switching to more disease-resistant apple varieties was also discussed, but Müller noted that consumer demand still favours traditional varieties such as Jonagold or Golden Delicious, while resistant alternatives often fail to meet the same taste expectations.
Addressing once again the potential risks for children, Müller dismissed this interpretation, explaining that such limits apply only to processed baby food and not to whole apples. He also underlined the well-established health benefits of apples.
On proposals to introduce voluntary labelling indicating pesticide residues, Müller expressed reservations, explaining that residue levels change over time due to natural degradation and that many treatments are applied early in the growing cycle, leaving no trace in the harvested fruit. The residues detected in the study, he said, largely relate to treatments used to prevent storage-related diseases.
Müller concluded that while Luxembourg’s fruit growers remain attentive to public concerns and continue to reduce pesticide use where possible, a minimum level of plant protection remains necessary to ensure reliable production.
