While reporting Government plans to test the levels of pesticide residues in vegetables and fruit, David Brown reminded readers that the then Ministry of Agriculture, Foods and Fisheries (MAFF - now renamed the Department of the Environment and Rural Affairs - Defra) had already advised consumers to peel, top and tail non-organic carrots in order to ensure that most residues are removed.

MAFF stated that this was only a precautionary measure and that levels found to date did not pose a danger to human health.

Ed.- We should be worried if MAFF issued a warning like this. It usually seemed to wait for absolute proof of danger before issuing such warnings.