This week’s numbers include a big moment for the Science-Based Targets initiative, new analysis of the pesticides found on fresh produce, good news and bad on commodities linked to deforestation in UK supermarket supply chains, plus some promising results from research into lifting freezer temperatures in a bid to cut energy use.
-15oC. Following an eighteen-month pilot study exploring if frozen food storage temperatures can be increased, Nomad Foods in collaboration with Campden BRI have written a proposed protocol on potential quality measurement attributes that could be measured to demonstrate impact on the quality of the products used in such trials. The results of the pilot study added further weight to the suggestion that storing frozen food at -15oC, instead of the industry standard -18oC (zero degrees Fahrenheit), can reduce freezer energy consumption by 10-11%, without any noticeable impact on the safety, texture, taste or nutritional value of a product. The British Frozen Food Federation is seeking feedback on the protocol which can be found here.
123. Analysis of UK government testing data has revealed that a quarter of vegetables and three-quarters of fruit contain multiple pesticides. PAN-UK, which conducted the research, said 123 different chemicals were found in the 17 types of fruit and vegetable tested. They include 42 pesticides with links to cancer and 21 known to interfere with hormone systems, potentially leading to birth defects, developmental disorders and reproductive problems. Grapes were one of the worst offenders with one single sample containing residues of 16 different pesticides. The government’s Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food tests around 3,000 kilograms of food each year, purchased from a range of sources including supermarkets.
2. The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has released a revised draft of the corporate net-zero standard V2 for a second public consultation. SBTi said the updated draft standard “makes climate science more accessible and actionable, empowering more companies to set ambitious, science-based targets and deliver measurable progress”. Version 2 also “maintains focus on direct decarbonisation, while improving clarity and usability, so that businesses can confidently turn ambition into credible action”. The consultation closed on December 12th.
1.8%. Only 1.8% of soy and 3.1% of cocoa sourced by UK supermarkets from high-risk areas is deforestation- and conversion-free (DCF). Targets will be missed, which will severely hinder their ability to deliver on broader climate targets, said WWF in its 2025 What’s in store for the planet report. There has however been a 10% increase of DCF sourcing of palm oil since last year, continuing efforts over the last decade by the industry.
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